Long way to go to meet Tshwane vaccination target

With just under 800 000 Pretoria residents vaccinated, the Tshwane metro still has some way to go to reach its target of 2 498 540 to obtain herd immunity.

The metro was unable to meet its target of 31 150 people during the past weekend’s inaugural Vooma vaccination drive lead by president Cyril Ramaphosa.

The metro held vaccination drives in all its seven districts at the weekend, with 30 of its vaccination sites supporting the Vooma campaign and some sites extending their hours to vaccinate more people.

The first Vooma vaccination weekend saw public and private health sectors, organised labour and business and community and faith-based formations join hands to mobilise communities to stay safe by being vaccinated.

The weekend of October 1-3 was aimed at mobilising citizens and people living in South Africa to get vaccinated as a means to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, said acting president spokesperson Tyrone Seale.

This as the Covid-19 fourth wave was anticipated towards the end of the year.

Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said with the Vooma vaccination drive held to also drive away vaccination hesitancy, the city was still witnessing a substantial number of people refraining from getting vaccinated.

“This issue is complex. Some might be due to fear spread by social media untested and untruthful stories and others are just hesitant. They are playing a wait-and-see game.”

Mashigo said Tshwane needed to vaccinate 2 498 540 residents to reach herd immunity.

“So far, we have vaccinated 791 798 up to October 2. The number of those who are fully vaccinated is 577 496.”

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa has commended the more than 353 000 people who heeded the call to be vaccinated against Covid-19 during the first Vooma weekend.

“The number of vaccine doses administered during the weekend was one and a half times the normal, daily rate.”

ALSO READ: Tshwane coronavirus weekly infections continue to plummet

Ramaphosa said the Vooma campaign was aimed at helping South Africa ensure that 70% of the population was vaccinated by the end of December.

“We can all be proud of the more than 350 000 people who seized this opportunity to get vaccinated during hours that were convenient for everyone,” he said.

“We would have liked this number to be higher but this was a surge towards greater protection of our nation.

“I thank leaders from all sectors of society who successfully mobilised communities to protect themselves.

“We also applaud our healthcare workers in the public and private sectors who spent a big part of their weekend on the frontline to administer life-saving vaccines to the nation.

“I hope the success of our first Vooma vaccination weekend will inspire unvaccinated people to step forward everyday of the week, and during our Vooma weekends to be vaccinated.”

Ramaphosa assured citizens that vaccines were 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.”

He said people wishing to be vaccinated simply needed to visit a vaccination centre – without needing an appointment – and present an identity document for registration. You will be vaccinated immediately and free of charge.

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