The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has urged teachers and staff to go the vaccination sites to get their Johnson & Johnson vaccine during the sector’s final week of the vaccination roll-out.

In a statement on Monday the department said the sector vaccination programme will remain open during the week of 5-9 July, where educators and staff can get vaccinated at their nearest vaccination designated site.

The vaccination programme has continued even after schools went on an early recess following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the country would move to Level 4 of the Covid-19 risk adjusted strategy.

Since the launch of the campaign on June 23, more than 333 000 teachers and support staff have received their jab.

According to the department the sector has received an additional 289 000 doses of the vaccine which will enable it to reach its overall target of vaccinating 582 564 teachers and non-teaching staff.

“The Basic Education sector will continue to administer the remaining doses of the vaccine to cover the remaining 282 512 staff.

“In addition, support staff from independent schools, food handlers, screeners, cleaners and Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners will be included in the roll out programme,” the department said.

A voice note doing its rounds on WhatsApp claiming that the KwaZulu-Natal education department was urgently calling on educators to go to any vaccination site to receive their vaccine, is fake.

The Department has urged all educators and staff to follow the schedules in each district in order to ensure a smooth roll-out of the programme.

Department of Education Ilemebe district vaccination sites:

• KwaDukuza: Stanger Secondary School
• Mandeni: Imbewenhle Primary School
• Ndwedwe: Ndwedwe Education Centre
• Maphumulo: Maphumulo Town Hall

For more information on the vaccination rollout, call the Covid-19 call centre at 0800 029 999.