Major rollout to vaccinate young people in Mopani
“We believe students have a much bigger role to play in their communities in mobilising other young people to get the vaccine in order for us to proceed faster towards the population immunity. “
Letaba Hospital has targeted schools in order to vaccinate young people from the age of 18 and above.
Since Wednesday, September 1, the team has been visiting schools in Nkowankowa, Dan village, N’wamitwa and some parts of Modjadji.
Schools visited include, Hudson Ntsanwisi Secondary, Bankuna High School, Charles Mathonsi, Makosovo High School and Khesenthwane High School, amongst others.
The community Liasion officer of the hospital, Curry Letsoalo, told the Herald that the programme has been going well and about 80% of learners responded positively towards the process.
“We know that most young people don’t like to go to hospitals, hence we opted to go where they are,” he explained.
The Nkowankowa circuit manager, Doreen Manzini, applauded the Department of Health for the project.
“I have observed how the officials are conducting the vaccinations and I am satisfied with the work they are doing.
“I believe that when both teachers and learners are vaccinated it will lower the infection rate in our teaching institutions,” she said when visiting Bankuna School.
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One of the grade 12 students at Bankuna, Sonia Nkuna, also applauded the efforts by the Department of Health for vaccinating them at school.
“I’m happy I got my first jab and I would like to encourage other people out there to also get vaccinated because it is to the benefit of society as a whole,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mopani District Municipality’s executive mayor, Pule Shayi, who is also the chairperson of the District Command Council on Covid-19, received his Covid-19 vaccine at the Mopani TVET College in Namakgale on Friday, August 27.
He used the opportunity to mobilise young people to vaccinate, saying, “we are encouraged to see that the students are enthusiastic about the vaccine, and we, therefore, applaud those that have also vaccinated.
“We believe students have a much bigger role to play in their communities in mobilising other young people to get the vaccine in order for us to proceed faster towards the population immunity. “
“This generation of young people not only has an obligation to spread correct information to our communities about the vaccine but also help in dispelling misconceptions and fake news about the vaccine,” he said.
