Vooma Vaccination Weekend aims to administer half a million jabs in 2 days

South Africans and other people living in the country will have an opportunity on Friday and Saturday to protect themselves against Covid in a nationwide mass vaccination drive.

The government, the public and private health sectors, organised labour and business, the community and faith-based formations will join forces in the vaccination drive themed Vooma Vaccination Weekend.

This will be the first Vooma Vaccination Weekend in a series of outreach programmes in which leaders from across the political spectrum, civil society, traditional leaders, labour and business will mobilise communities to get vaccinated.

Vaccines are safe and easy to receive. They protect people against serious illness, hospitalisation and death.

And when the majority of people in the country are vaccinated, the nation will experience a greater sense of freedom and safety in social interactions and economic activity.

Vaccines are free of charge and during Vooma Vaccination Weekend, vaccination centres and points – including pop-ups – will be open all day today and tomorrow in all corners of the country.

Ministers, deputy ministers, premiers, mayors, councillors and leaders from other sectors of society will be out in various communities.

Government and social partners call on South Africans and people living in the country to roll up their sleeves and ensure that at least half a million people are vaccinated this weekend, en route to achieving a national vaccination rate of 70% of the adult population by the end of the year.

Vaccination is also SA’s best defence against a possible fourth wave of Covid infection.

President Cyril Ramaphosa called on leaders from all sectors of society and to all South Africans to seize Vooma Vaccination Weekend as an opportunity to ensure the country pushes back Covid and achieves greater safety for all.

The president also sees Vooma Vaccination Weekends as platforms for the nation to honour the efforts of frontline health workers and health service managers, as well as volunteers and other support personnel.

Government reminds the public that even when people are vaccinated, they still need to mask up, wash their hands or sanitise them, keep a safe distance and observe national state of disaster regulations.

– news@citizen.co.za