City appeals to Capetonians to get COVID-19 jab

The City of Cape Town is calling on residents to get vaccinated. The number of individuals registered in the Cape metro is nearing 850 000, which represents approximately 43% of those eligible for registration and vaccination.

According to the City of Cape Town, out of eight health sub-districts, the three with the lowest rates of registration are Khayelitsha, Mitchell’s Plain, and the Klipfontein sub-district. Individual areas with very low registration rates include Delft, Philippi, Crossroads, Nomzamo and Fisantekraal.

The City’s Mayco Member for Community Services and Health, Zahid Badroodien says that there are multiple reasons why these areas have such low registration rates, including vaccine hesitancy.

“The public health service works very hard to increase the number of vaccination sites for ease of access, and in recent months we have started doing walk-in registrations and vaccinations for priority groups to get around possible obstacles posed by the electronic registration system. Our education and awareness initiatives are continuing, we have successfully lobbied for more vaccines at public facilities,” Badroodien said.

Badroodien says there continues to be a lot of misinformation about the vaccines in the public realm, but it is important that residents block out the noise and visit their nearest clinic for advice instead if they have reservations about getting vaccinated.

”We are currently still grappling with a devastating third wave of infections, and the vaccine has proven to protect against severe illness and death. We cannot afford to lose more lives when we have vaccines available,” said Badroodien.

He added that the vaccination may come with minor side effects like a sore arm, mild fever, fatigue, headache or muscle/joint aches as this is common and that the body is responding to the vaccine by building immune response.

‘’The City recognises that this pandemic has taken its toll on our residents, and that fatigue has set in. However, the ongoing infections and fatalities too are very real and should serve as a constant reminder that we have to continue doing our bit to keep safe and prevent the fourth wave.’’

 

Done By: Mitchum George