Health Department: Get R200 when you get the jab

The Department of Health has increased the Vooma Vaccination voucher on Wednesday to encourage more people to get the jab.

THE AGE GROUP HAS ALSO BEEN DECREASED 

Spokesperson Foster Mohale said the age group has also been decreased, as it was initially only aimed at those 60 years and above.

“Due to the low uptake, we have expanded the scope and now include those 50 years and older, and we increased that value of the voucher. So, from now on, the value of the voucher is at R200,” he said.

PURPOSE IS TO ENSURE THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK ARE VACCINATED 

He said the purpose of Vooma Vouchers is to ensure that as many people aged 50 and older get vaccinated ahead of the 4th wave because they are at the highest risk of getting severely ill or dying from Covid-19.

Mohale said the problem is that the rate of vaccination among older people is now very low. 

“Fewer than 8,000 people 50+ are being vaccinated for the first time every day, which means that there will be close to 4 million 50+ unvaccinated at the end of the year. They are now at high risk with the approaching 4th wave,” he said. 

MAKING IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE TO GET A VACCINE 

“One of the reasons why people do not come forward for vaccination is that they still have to pay to get to the vaccination sites or may have other expenses associated with it, even though the vaccination itself is free. We want to try and make it as easy as possible for people to get vaccinated.

“The value of the Vooma Voucher has also been increased to R200 from Monday, 29 November, given the heightened urgency to ensure that all people aged 50 and older are vaccinated without delay,” Mohale said. 

ALSO READ: NICD: Vaccines likely to still offer protection against B.1.1.529 variant

The voucher can be used within 30 days at any Shoprite, Checkers, or U-save.

VOUCHERS ARE ONLY FOR THOSE GETTING JAB FOR THE FIRST TIME 

However, Mohale explains that the new increased value is only for those who are getting the jab for the first time.

READ MORE: Prizes in new lottery now up for grabs if you take the Covid-19 vaccine

“At this moment, we are encouraging all unvaccinated people; for now it does not apply for those who have received a jab.”

HOW DOES THE VOOMA VOUCHER WORK?

• For the month of November (starting 1 November for 60-year-olds and 18 November for 50-year-olds), every person who is 50 years and older and goes for their very first Covid-19 jab, will automatically receive notification of a R200 voucher as an SMS on the cell number they gave for vaccination. They can redeem it at any Shoprite, Checkers or Usave store. They will be invited to send an SMS to say “Yes” to confirm they would like to receive it. This SMS is free.
• Those people who do not yet have a free Money Market Account with Shoprite will need to register either in-store or by free USSD, WhatsApp or mobile App. This free service will ensure that the voucher can be traced and re-issued if it is lost and if it has not already been redeemed. It also means that people do not have to spend the full voucher all at once.
• The voucher is valid for 30 days after receiving it.
• Vouchers will be issued until the end of December 2021 or until vouchers run out, whichever comes first. So far, we have funding for 260,000 vouchers. Vouchers will only be given to people coming for their first dose (i.e. either J&J vaccine or first dose Pfizer). Vouchers will not be issued for the second Pfizer dose.

.