Number of jabbed people in education sector increases as WC, Limpopo start vaccination programme

KwaZulu-Natal teachers wait to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng/African News Agency (ANA)

KwaZulu-Natal teachers wait to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng/African News Agency (ANA)

Published Jun 28, 2021

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Johannesburg - The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has noted a significant uptick in the number of people vaccinated after the Limpopo and Western Cape provinces kicked off their programme on Friday.

Last week, the basic education sector commenced with its vaccination programme, which saw more than 105 000 people being jabbed from seven provinces in two days.

Spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said on Friday when the programme started last week, the Department of Health expected 49 776 teachers and staff to receive vaccines, and on the day 55 444 got their injections.

“The number of people vaccinated is set to increase significantly when Limpopo and Western Cape start in earnest today,” he said.

The DBE revealed that KwaZulu-Natal was leading in the vaccine programme with 32.1% of their target population vaccinated by Friday, followed by Mpumalanga with 26% and the North West with 22% registered vaccinations. The Free State has recorded 21.6%, the Eastern Cape 21%, the Northern Cape 12% and Gauteng 11% as of Thursday.

The sector has identified 582 000 teachers and staff who are expected to be vaccinated by July 8. This included administrative staff and support staff at all public schools, school governing body-appointed teachers and teachers employed by registered independent schools.

“The Department of Health has announced that more Johnson & Johnson doses have arrived in the country. The department has assured the sector that there will be enough vaccine doses for everybody in the basic education sector,” Mhlanga said.

The DBE urged all educators and staff to follow the schedules in each district to ensure a smooth roll-out of the programme.

National Teachers’ Union acting president Sibusiso Malinga commended: “It shows commitment and determination by all parties. Employers in the sector have prepared themselves to go and vaccinate as they put their country first. By so doing, they are applauding the great move by the government and the education department that has collaborated well in trying to fight the pandemic.”

The union, however, condemned an incident in Newcastle, KZN, where all staff in the Amajuba District were allegedly ordered to close schools and rush to the vaccination site as Health Department officials were about to close because it was believed there would not be another chance for employees to get vaccinated.

“Natu regards this as a very irresponsible act that put the lives of employees at risk,” Malinga said.

He said chaos that ensued had compromised Covid-19 protocols as social distancing wasn’t observed as people were pushing through the door.

“This also impacted negatively on the vaccination campaign as we went out encouraging employees to go and vaccinate against all the myths. Some might have been discouraged for good, which nullifies the good work done jointly by the department and labour formations.”

The Star

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