KwaZulu-Natal premier, Sihle Zikalala and Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane launched a pop up vaccine site at Lamontville SJ Smith Hostel, famously known as Wema. Sihle Zikalala with Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane at Lamontville addressing the media. Picture: Supplied.
DURBAN - A POP-UP vaccination site has been launched in Lamontville with the aim of reaching everyone including vulnerable communities. The site was launched by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala along with Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane at the Wema Community Residential Unit (hostel) on Sunday.
The launch of the site comes after Zikalala launched the mass vaccination programme Operation Siyagoma WayaWaya at King Cetshwayo District on Friday. He said the programme was an intervention.
“This programme will see all members of the provincial cabinet venture into churches, community residential units (or hostels), shopping malls, and various other places in order to drum up support for the life-saving medical intervention that is vaccination,” he said.
Speaking at the launch in Lamontville, Zikalala said the site will ensure that vaccination programmes reach everyone, particularly the most vulnerable communities.
He expressed his concern about the low vaccination rate for the 60-plus age group.
“People who fall under the vulnerable 60 -lus age group are no longer registering or coming forward to get vaccinated. In fact, we still have around 400 000 of these senior citizens who are at higher risk of succumbing to Covid-19 if they get infected and have not been vaccinated. Even the 18-34 age group, who are at far less risk of suffering Covid-19 complications, are doing much better when compared to these senior citizens,” he said.
Zikalala encouraged people to vaccinate, revealing research that suggests that people who are unvaccinated are at a higher risk of Covid-19.
“We have received strong confirmation from medical and scientific expert advice that the recent surge in Covid-19 cases reflects the high number of mostly unvaccinated people.
“Let us take responsibility for the sake of our families and loved ones. The vaccines are safe and all of us around this table have taken the vaccine. Our province has shed many tears through this vicious pandemic,” he said.
THE MERCURY
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