Over 670 000 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the Free State. The provincial Department of Health says vaccination at its 109 sites has been ramped up.
The spokesperson for the department Mondli Mvambi says they have permanent sites, mobile as well as pop-up sites across the province.
Mvambi says they have also taken the vaccination drive to various companies as well as places of entertainment to ensure that as many people as possible are able to get access
“It takes about 15 minutes in most of our drive-through sites. For instance, the drive-through site is at the Free State Toyota Cheetahs rugby stadium, the other one is located in Sasolburg in Fezi Ngumbentombi hospital. So, many efforts are being rolled out to make sure that the vaccine reaches people at their most point of ease of access so that people don’t have to go too far to vaccinate,” says Mvambi.
Ramaphosa on vaccines
President Cyril Ramaphosa says those who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will delay the country’s ability to achieve herd immunity and ultimately the return to full economic activity.
He says while no one should be forced to take vaccines, people should be encouraged to be vaccinated for the safety and that of those around them.
Ramaphosa was responding to the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) leader, Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, in the National Assembly during his question and answer session.
The President adds that although the rights of people should be respected, they should be balanced against the rights of others to protect against infection.
President Cyril Ramaphosa Question and Answer session in parliament
COVID-19 Stats
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says 418 more people have succumbed to COVID-19 related complications in the latest 24-hour reporting period – taking the overall death toll to 82 914.
The NICD says 9 203 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the period.
The increase represents a 16.1% positivity rate.
“The majority of new cases today are from KwaZulu-Natal (29%), followed by Western Cape (20%). Eastern Cape accounted for 18%,” notes the NICD in their latest report.
Latest COVID-19 stats per province:
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