Politicians lead the vaccination drive in Mpumalanga
Politicians and government officials continue to lead the vaccination drive.
The South African Communist Party and the MEC for education, Bonakele Majuba, led the campaign to get educators and support staff vaccinated last Wednesday. During this campaign, Majuba took the lead and received the jab himself.
“We are quite happy that teachers are being vaccinated, because they will now be protected and feel safe to do their work at school without any fears.
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“This time around, we believe that this is also going to encourage them to adhere to the fact that at some stage we will need all learners, especially those at primary school level, to come back to school. And when that time comes they (teachers) will not have to be scared.
“But at the same time we would like to encourage all of them who are given an opportunity to vaccinate to do so, because we believe that this is going to protect them,” said Majuba shortly after having his vaccination.
The MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini, who has criss-crossed the province leading the compliance and vaccination drive, said she was pleased with the manner in which teachers have responded to the call to get vaccinated. She said they are ready and looking at finishing on time.
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“As a province and Department of Health, we are ready to vaccinate our teachers and all support staff. Working with the Department of Education, we have made it a point to open 20 sites throughout the province where our teachers will be vaccinated. We have also deployed 177 health officials who will help vaccinate all the Department of Education employees. We appeal to them to come and take the vaccine, because it’s important that they are protected,” said Manzini.
On Monday, the MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Vusi Shongwe, also spearheaded the vaccination campaign. He was vaccinated in his hometown, Ermelo, where he made the call to get all qualifying persons to do the same.
“I must say that the experience was We must not fool ourselves into believing that since we have been vaccinated, we are free exceptionally fine. There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. You know, I felt nothing at all when taking the jab and it gives hope to anyone, especially people of our age. I would like to encourage all of them and come forward and vaccinate. It is the right thing to do.
“I would like to appeal to all the people in the province to follow suite and take the jab, especially now that we are in the third wave. People must take care of themselves so that the body can be ready for anything,” said Shongwe.
He said after vaccinating, people must not relax and be fooled into believing that they are now immune to contracting the virus.
“We must not fool ourselves into believing that since we have been vaccinated, we are free. No, we must continue making sure we follow all the protocols and protect other people,” he said.
