‘Teachers only’ vaccinated at Pta North city hall

Covid-19 vaccination of teachers and staff in the education sector is well underway at the Pretoria North city hall.

On Wednesday morning, people were already queuing outside the community hall in Emily Hobhouse Street.

“Only teachers will be vaccinated here for the next two weeks, after which we are planning to keep the hall open for vaccinating the elderly and people over 60,” said medical staff worker Hantie Bester on scene.

Bester said the estimation was that 227 members of the education sector would be vaccinated on Wednesday.

“We experienced some problems with our electronic system earlier this morning, but everything is running smoothly now and we are still on schedule.”

Last week, acting minister of health Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane confirmed the arrival of 300 000 J&J vaccines meant for the education sector.

The Pretoria North city hall was recently inspected by the department of health and deemed suitable as one of the vaccination sites. Staff of the Pretoria North clinic were administering the vaccines.

“This is good news for our people in the north of Pretoria,” said ward councillor Yolanda Duvenage.

“After the teachers have been vaccinated, the facility will still be open to assist our elderly registered for the vaccine.”

Teachers from Clapham High School in Queenswood and staff from Pretoria School for Cerebral Palsied Learners were some of those in line for the “jabs” at the hall on Wednesday.

“There is nothing to it. Only a little pain when the needle goes into your arm, but I feel fine,” said Thulani Magagula from Clapham High School, after receiving the vaccine.

Liezl Forsman, who teaches at Pretoria School for Cerebral Palsied Learners, agreed that receiving the jab was “nothing to worry about”.

“It was worse getting a flu shot as a ‘laaitie’, this was nothing – didn’t hurt at all,” one of the other teachers said laughingly.

Teachers at schools across Pretoria were elated to be getting the vaccine so soon.

Reinette Deetlefs of Hoërskool Montana, in the north of Pretoria, said some of the teachers were fortunate to also go for their “jabs” on Wednesday.

“The department lets us know of the date and place for the vaccinations. We were fortunate to be scheduled for today already,” said Deetlefs on Wednesday.

Elria Kruger of Hoërskool Oos-Moot said they have not yet received word on when and where the school’s staff can get vaccinated, but was positive that it would be soon.

“This is a really good thing, especially now in the third wave of Covid,” said Nadya Pretorius of Hoërskool Centurion.

“Some of our teachers went to get vaccinated today (Wednesday), and it will definitely help us keep our learners and our families safe.”

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