vaccination

Photo: Twitter / @GautengHealth

These are the 30 public vaccination sites open in Gauteng this weekend

The Gauteng Health Department will have 30 vaccination sites open from 14 to 15 August. The province is calling on men to come out and get vaccinated.

vaccination

Photo: Twitter / @GautengHealth

The Gauteng Department of Health will have 30 COVID-19 vaccination sites open this weekend, including three drive-through sites. The provincial department is also concerned about the poor turnout of men at vaccination sites, this problem, however, is not unique to Gauteng.

30 VACCINATION SITES OPEN IN GP THIS WEEKEND

Motalatale Modiba, the provincial head of communications in the health department, told SABC News that the number of weekend vaccination sites were increased in the hope that more men would turn up for the jab.

This week social media was flooded with messages about the SMS the government sent to citizens, which encouraged men to get vaccinated against COVID-19, specifically.

“We’ve got over 30 vaccination sites that are operational this weekend, just to ensure that we give them a chance,” said Modiba. “There’s a number of sites where people can go in and do drive-thus. We’ve got drive-thrus in West Drive at the Sandton Islamic Association, at the Dayveton Main Clinic, we’ve just now opened another one at the Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria and we just want to send a special message to men that there’s really nothing to be afraid of, let them come out and get vaccinated.”

Photo: Gauteng Health Department

‘OUR FEMALE COMPATRIOTS ARE LEADING THE WAY’

Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, echoed Modiba and called on more men to register for vaccination. The Health Department’s records indicate that women make up most of the nine million vaccines administered in South Africa thus far.

“Our female compatriots are leading in coming forward to be vaccinated – 60% of the women against 40% of men,” said the health minister.

“So we again call on male counterparts to come forwards and register. We also continue to vaccinate at workplaces, farms and mines and factories,” said Phaahla.

VACCINATION THE ONLY WAY TO REDUCE IMPACT OF 4TH WAVE

The Health Department said the fourth wave of coronavirus infections in South Africa is inevitable but its severity is unknown at this point.

Nicholas Crisp, the Health Deputy Director-General, said vaccination is the only way to reduce the impact of the fourth wave. Crisp added that the health department is disappointed that vaccination registrations are slowing down.

“Total registrations are 9.2 million,” said Crisp. “There will be a fourth wave, we have no doubt, we don’t know when, how severe or which variant but we need to protect ourselves by vaccinating.”