Limpopo Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba says her department is working to ensure that all people in rural areas have access to COVID-19 vaccinations.
Provincial health officials have in recent weeks taken the vaccination drive to high-density areas such as mines, farms and shopping malls.
Ramathuba says they want to ensure people that all residents of the province are protected against the virus.
Meanwhile, Ramathuba has encouraged alcohol consumers and those in the liquor industry to get vaccinated, saying the sector should work with the department to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
This after the South African Liquor Brand Owners’ Association described a proposal to introduce a vaccine passport for tavern customers as not viable.
The MEC says despite vaccinations not being mandatory, people should consider the benefits of the shots.
“People are being proactive. Guys in the alcohol industry, come and join hands, work with us. There are these messages, when we craft them, we don’t just craft them out of the blue. Science is saying that people who are not vaccinated, their bodies become the factory hub for these viruses to mutate.”
Ramathuba says, “We don’t know the variant that will push the fourth wave, whether it will be more transmissible than the Delta or more virulent. All we are saying is we will continue to do our work to educate the public.”
