USE ROLE MODELS TO BOOST JABS
AS THE government tries to intensify its Covid-19 vaccination programme, politicians need to step aside and let individuals who are trusted by the public take centre stage in convincing people to get inoculated.
Despite having sufficient vaccines and vaccination sites in almost every corner of the country, the government's vaccination programme has been moving at a snail's pace. Vaccine hesitancy among men, the youth and older people has caught the government by surprise. Clearly, the social media misinformation campaign is winning.
During his address to the nation on Sunday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa presented statistics collected in the Western Cape. They show that most of those admitted to hospital due to Covid-19 in the province were unvaccinated. He said that between August 14 and 20, the Western Cape Department of Health had compiled figures on people older than 60 who were infected with Covid-19.
“Only 30 out of 729 people above the age of 60 who were admitted to hospital for Covid-19 that week had been vaccinated,” said Ramaphosa.
There is enough scientific evidence that the best way to prevent Covid-19 is to get vaccinated and adhere to the health protocols of wearing a mask, physical distancing, regular washing of hands and avoiding crowded spaces.
There is no doubt that one of the reasons that the vaccination programme is not going so well is because of the trust deficit people have in politicians.
The rampant corruption in the government, service delivery failures and the chaotic ANC councillor nomination process have reinforced this narrative. To expect a vaccination campaign led by the same politicians to have credibility is wishful thinking.
Politicians and government officials must step aside, and religious leaders, doctors and nurses, traditional leaders and representatives of civil society should lead the charge.
These groups know what is happening in the communities they serve. They don't avail themselves only when they want communities to vote for them. If we are serious about seeing an upsurge in the number of people who choose to be vaccinated, let's use people who are trusted and have a long and admired history of true community service.