Become a vaccination ambassador
This is my first message to public servants in my role as Minister in The Presidency and it is one that gives me great pride, particularly when I consider your contribution to largest mass vaccination programme ever rolled out in South Africa
The significant strides we are making in the fight against COVID-19 is largely thanks to the sterling efforts of public servants.
The target of administering 300 000 vaccines per day is now in sight.
As of 8 October 2021, more than 18 700 000 vaccines had been administered.
The success of the campaign is proof of what government can collectively achieve, and those involved deserve high praise.
Vaccination is our best defence against COVID-19. Health Minister Joe Phaahla has explained that we could face a number of waves in the future, but that mutations and viral loads will decrease as the percentage of vaccinated people increases. This will eventually result in fewer surges in infections.
Unlike most medicines, which treat or help cure diseases, vaccines actually help prevent them – this is the message we need to convey to the public to counteract any vaccine hesitancy.
History has many examples of how vaccines prevented countless deaths. At its peak, polio paralysed or killed over half a million people worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation, polio cases have decreased by over 99% since 1988, from an estimated 350 000 cases to 22 reported cases in 2017. This reduction is the result of a global vaccination campaign.
In the 1950s, between three and four million people in the United States contracted measles each year. Of these, 400 to 500 people died, 48 000 were hospitalised and 1 000 suffered swelling of the brain. Today, thanks to the development of a vaccine in the 1960s, measles outbreaks are rare and occur largely in communities with low vaccination coverage.
Our people need to know that vaccines are safe, they are effective and they are essential to grow our economy and both save and create jobs.
South Africa’s entire adult population is now eligible to be vaccinated – and the process has been made very easy.
Walk-ins by people not registered on the Electronic Vaccination Data System are allowed at all vaccination sites – and this includes people who do not belong to a medical aid. Spread the word!
Another commendable aspect of our vaccination campaign is the out-ofthe-box ideas, such as pop-up vaccination sites, drive-through vaccination sites and partnerships with religious and business sectors.
Public servants must be vaccination ambassadors. It is our duty to help spread the word that while being vaccinated might not prevent COVID-19, it will lower the risks of severe symptoms and death and will ultimately help defeat the pandemic.