India’s Covid-19 numbers should serve as a lesson for South Africa

COUNTRIES around the globe are under pressure and worried about the record numbers of new Covid-19 infections.

The emergence of new variants and the tragedy unfolding in India should serve as a compelling reason for the South African government to step up vaccination efforts and to continuously promote safety and prevention measures.

According to reports, South Africa has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths on the African continent.

Besides the deaths and the considerable strain on health-care facilities, the high financial and economic cost of the pandemic is evident in most homes and businesses.

To this end, the South African government needs to increase vigilance at grass roots level if we want to limit the impact of a possible third wave.

In addition to making sufficient vaccine procurement a main concern, more needs to be done to raise public awareness on the safety concerns around the vaccine.

Speaking to some ordinary South Africans on the streets, many have expressed their reservations regarding the side-effects of the vaccine.

If the vaccine mistrust is not swiftly addressed, regrettably, it will hinder South Africa’s vaccination roll-out programme.

In order for South Africa to prevent more loss of lives from the virus and reach herd immunity, the government, community and religious leaders and other stakeholders need to work together to lessen the impact of this novel virus.