Gauteng men duck vaccination in large numbers
The province has not been reaching expected targets in Covid-19 vaccination numbers in the last seven days of August.
Gauteng premier David Makhura has expressed dissatisfaction at the low number of men getting vaccinated for Covid-19 inoculation in the province.
“Women are responding, however, we are worried about the men,” he said.
Ge made the remarks during a visit, along with health MEC Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi to newly opened vaccination sites in the Tshwane metro on Thursday.
The Gauteng province has administered 2.1 million Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson vaccines across the province.
Makhura said men were not coming out in large numbers as they were expected to.
He said the split ratio of men and women in the province was 49/51, but reports showed that fewer men are getting the vaccinations.
“I am calling out everybody in Soshanguve and Tshwane to come out in large numbers and get vaccinated.”
Makhura said this call especially to the elderly, such as people aged 50 and older.
“They are at great risk and are the easiest targets for Covid-19.”
Makhura said the province had been slow and not reaching targeted expectations in vaccination numbers in the last seven days.
“The numbers have not been doing as well as they are supposed to do.”
vaccination sites in the City of Tshwane to monitor progress and lead a drive to expand vaccination sites
across the province. Photo: Reitumetse Mahope.
He said the problem was vaccine myths.
“I want to reassure the elders that vaccines save lives and we are anticipating another wave just before Christmas.”
He said elders were encouraged to vaccinate before the anticipated fourth wave.
“There are 1.3 million people aged 60 and above, but we have only covered 50% of them; so we have a long way to go.”
He said there was no excuse to not get vaccinated as the province was in a bid to ramp up its vaccination drives.
“We are looking to reach 100 000 vaccinations a day, in both the private and public sector.”
Makhura said this would be with a particular focus in the cities of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.
He said to achieve this, the province was opening more vaccination sites in the province.
Tshwane now has more vaccinations sites: Saulsville arena, KT Motubatse hall and a hall opposite the Soshanguve Block X clinic.
“Saulsville arena is a mass vaccination site that administers 2 000 vaccinations a day.”
He said drive-through sites for those in a rush would be increased in Tshwane as well as planned weekend inoculation times. The province was further working to get more healthcare workers to administer vaccinations.
“The province is increasing healthcare workers in collaboration with medical universities and nursing colleges to provide students to assist.
He said previous waves saw the healthcare sector having to work with skeleton staffs, but thanks to the vaccines healthcare workers were “unhindered” in the third wave.
“Vaccines have proven to reduce hospitalisations and deaths.”
He said this was proven throughout the globe.
Makhura said besides the challenges, he was happy with the 35-to-49 age group.
“This category is the largest number registered and vaccinating.
He reminded residents that all Gauteng vaccination sites accepted walk-ins whether people were registered on the EVDS or not.
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