President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended the more than 353 000 people who heeded the call to be vaccinated against COVID-19 during the first Vooma Vaccination Weekend on Friday and Saturday.

People living in South Africa visit vaccination sites across the country this weekend despite rainy weather and the number of vaccine doses administered during the weekend was one and a half times the normal daily rate.

The Vooma campaign is also aimed at helping South Africa ensure that 70 percent of the population is vaccinated by the end of December.

Caxton visited Vooma Vaccination Weekend initiatives in various regions. Read more about drives in Port Shepstone, Newcastle and Witbank:   

Port Shepstone: Hospital embarks on vaccination drive despite rain

Despite the rainy weather, Port Shepstone Regional Hospital in partnership with primary healthcare vaccinated more than 1 150 people during the first presidential Vooma Vaccination Weekend campaign last weekend.

“The overall success of the campaign was largely influenced by the strong support given by the leadership of the firms, companies and areas we were vaccinating at in Marburg, Louisiana, Oshabeni and Oribi Plaza.

This went together with broad and well-managed communication and community involvement by the community health workers, which resulted in so many people being successfully vaccinated last weekend,” said Phumza Morai, PRO of Port Shepstone Regional Hospital.

She said there was broad scientific agreement that attaining herd immunity will require the vaccination of a very substantial proportion of the population, hence the Vooma Vaccination Weekends will continue up to December 2021.

“We thank the people for coming in numbers to be vaccinated, and if the remaining unvaccinated citizens could continue to come forward to get their vaccines, we would hopefully defeat the Covid-19 pandemic and escape the fourth wave which is expected to hit the country towards the end of the year,” added Ms Morai.  

Government urges young people to vaccinate

Local, provincial and national offices of government have joined forces with operation Yolo (You Only Live Once), a vaccination drive created in an effort to ensure safety, longevity and preservation amongst the KwaZulu-Natal youth. The Yolo vaccination drive took place at all three Esayidi TVET College campuses on Monday.

It was led by the Vooma Vaccination Drive, Buti Manamela (Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Innovation), Nonhlanhla Khoza (KZN MEC for Social Development) and Ray Nkonyeni Municipality Mayor Cynthia Mqwebu.

In his appeal to urge young people to vaccinate, Manamela along with dignitaries in attendance visited the Nyenyezi Campus in Bhobhoyi, the Port Shepstone Campus in Oslo Beach and concluded at the Gamalakhe Campus.

Manamela addressed a group of N6 level students in Oslo beach, motivating them to take the vaccine. “I want you guys to help spread the message, because there are those who are reluctant and have concerns that it might turn them into some character from DC Comics. I’m sure we’d all like to be superman but unfortunately this vaccine won’t do that,” he said jokingly

“Let us also encourage those who have concerns and let us help clarify them. One should also seek assistance from a qualified medical professional,” he added.

A mobile clinic from the Port Shepstone Primary Healthcare Outreach team, which offers various medical services administered the vaccinations. Once vaccinated, students were observed for 15 minutes in case of any mild side effects.

“You only have one life, be responsible and don’t waste it by uplifting vaccine stigmas. We have to take charge of our lives because the government has invested a lot into our youth,” said MEC Khoza.    

Newcastle: Vaccine campaign aims to bring a dose of normality

“Vaccination is very important because from the side of health experts, it is a way to protect yourself.”

These words from the Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi, helped frame the importance of the Vooma Vaccination weekend and the role of all stakeholders in encouraging South Africans to be vaccinated against Covid-19. He was present to open a permanent vaccine site at the Newcastle Mall on October 1.

Also see: Labour Minister helps launch Vooma Vaccination weekend 

As one of many South Africans who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, Minister Nxesi elaborated on how the vaccine could prevent death and even serious illness from the coronavirus, and mentioned the importance of the country reaching so-called herd immunity.

He said this was critical, considering reports of a fourth wave later in the year. “The pandemic has disrupted much socially and economically, because of the ‘stops and gos’ of the lockdown, and has caused serious unemployment. We want to grow the economy again and this can only happen with a healthy nation.”

Speaking about the mall’s vaccination site, Minister Nxesi said its placement was very strategic for shoppers and this ease of accessibility covered one of the key problems of the day.

He is hopeful the site will see continued use. Minister Nxesi further thanked mall management for tending to the health needs of the town, province, and country, and stated his belief that profit should never come before people.

“It is clear the business agrees with my department on this, for them to offer this space.”

Minister Nxesi also spoke frankly about the anti-vaccine community and lingering suspicion over Covid-19 vaccines, stating that denouncers of being vaccinated simply do not understand its importance and do not possess all the answers.

“I feel protected and confident [after being fully vaccinated], but I will also respect protocols such as wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing my hands. We should all do what is necessary to keep ourselves and those around us safe.”

The first vaccination at the newly opened site was administered by the Mayor of the Amajuba District, Dr Musa Ngubane, in his capacity as a medical professional.

Receiving the jab was resident, Mpho Nemasisi. This was his second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine – he said this time around it seemed almost normal and he did not anticipate any side effects.

Asked why he believes in the importance of vaccination, Nemasisi responded: “It’s the right thing to do. Covid-19 has killed many and it’s better to get vaccinated, so life can go back to normal.”

Witbank: Premier shows support at Vooma Vaccination Campaign weekend

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he believes South Africa has managed the Covid-19 pandemic as well as it could. The president said this when he was launching the government’s Vooma Vaccination Weekend Drive.

The campaign was launched by the president on Friday, October 1 in Gauteng. The initiative was aimed at mobilising as many South Africans to get the Covid-19 jab before the end of the year.

He said the focus was to ramp up vaccination numbers and the aim was to protect the people of South Africa.

While all this was happening, Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane accompanied by the Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Mpumalanga Health MEC Sasekeni Manzini and eMalahleni Executive Mayor Cllr Linah Malatjie visited some areas during the campaign.

They visited Highveld Mall, the local taxi rank and did a house to house in Lynnville ending up at the Ackerville Stadium.

The Premier said she was encouraged by the number of people who have come forward to be vaccinated. “We are optimistic and encouraged by the numbers.

On Friday during the launch of the programme about 11 000 people across the province have been vaccinated and we had to push hard to maintain the momentum.

We are pleased to have been joined by Minister Nkoana-Mashabane who has been championing the drive in the Nkangala district. We need to make sure that people come forward and we are going to visit other areas as well.