Archbishop Desmond Tutu encourages South Africans to call get vaccinated
Desmond Tutu and other South African figures have thrown their weight behind the call for vaccination, but some Sowetans are far from convinced.
South African icon and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu has come out in support of the planned vaccination roll out by the government.
“Covid-19 has wreaked havoc. It has destroyed lives and livelihoods and it has robbed us of the comfort of family and friends, but we can stop it. We have vaccines. I join many other world leaders in pledging to have a vaccine against Covid-19 as soon as one becomes available to me,” Tutu said.
The 89-year-old also touched on a personal note, recalling his battle with Tuberculosis and how a combination of treatment and vaccines helped save his life
“When I was a teenager, in 1945, I contracted tuberculosis (TB). It robbed me of two years of my life as I underwent treatment in a TB hospital. I was lucky. I recovered. TB remains South Africa’s number-one cause of death, and in the more than 70 years since I underwent TB treatment, millions of South Africans, and millions more of their brothers and sisters across Africa and the world, have also lost their lives, to a preventable disease,” he added.
[also read] – Hospital Heroes showing love and support to healthcare workers
“In many countries, TB is no longer a threat. This includes large parts of Africa and South America. Its eradication is thanks to a combination of vaccines and effective treatment. We can do the same with Covid-19, and claim our lives back.”
On the streets of Soweto however, people are less optimistic than the Archbishop. Thubelihle Mgadi said she still does not know enough about the vaccines to be confident.
“We hardly know anything yet because so much information is hidden about these vaccines. I think the government has to put more effort into explaining how the vaccine will work then people might be more willing,” Mgadi said
While Kamogelo Seema said as long as the vaccine was not mandatory he did not mind getting vaccinated
“I don’t have a problem with it. But I don’t think that people should be forced to vaccinate. We have a high recovery rate and so many people have recovered without so why would it be necessary for me to take it? I think it should be a choice
One million vaccines are expected to land in South Africa by end of January, however, not everyone will get a dose though. The South African government has implemented a 3 phase programme in which health care workers will be the first to get vaccinated. Essential workers, the elderly, and people over 18 years of age living with commodities will get the second batch before the rest of the population gets the last batch.
On concerns, if the vaccine will be compulsory, Minister of Health, Dr. Zweli Mkhize reassured South Africans that taking the vaccine will not be compulsory.
“Vaccines are not mandatory, we just need the community to understand that taking the vaccine is for their benefit,“ he told the media on Thursday.
Follow Us Here:Â
Catch the latest news by visiting our other platforms:
