Vax facts: Spread accurate Covid-19 information and be a champ!
Become a Vax Champ in your community by educating yourself about Covid-19 and vaccines, promoting vaccination to friends, family and neighbours, and reporting vaccination issues and problems in your area.
The National Department of Health recently launched its Vax Champs campaign and has invited everyone living in South Africa to become a Covid-19 vaccination ambassador. Vooma Vaccine Champions, or Vax Champs, encourage their friends, family members and neighbours to vaccinate.
The only way South Africa will control the Covid-19 pandemic is by vaccinating the majority of the population, says the Department of Health. Already, over 24 million people living in South Africa have had at least one Covid-19 vaccination. It is estimated that 20 000 lives could be saved if the vaccination target of 70% of the population is reached by the end of the year.
According to Vax Champs coordinator Pauline Maketa, many people actually do want to get vaccinated, but they have heard or read things on social media that concern them. You can be a Vax Champ by sharing with them medical evidence of the safety of vaccines.
“After all, billions of people around the world have vaccinated and we know for a fact that those who vaccinate are less likely to get Covid-19, and if they do get Covid-19, they are less likely to need hospital care,” says Maketa.
Vax Champs are asked to do three things:
1. Educate themselves about Covid and vaccines.
2. Promote vaccination to friends, family and neighbours (on social media and in real life).
3. Report vaccination issues and problems in their area.
The Vax Champs programme is available in all 11 official South African languages, with a team offering support and advice so that accurate and correct information is shared.
To become a Vax Champ, either:
• visit www.vaxchamp.org.zaÂ
• WhatsApp 0600 123 456, or
• call the National Covid Hotline 0800 029 999
