COVID UPDATE BY JESSIE TAYLOR
Partnering to get vaccines to the public
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n the next step towards increasing the number of South Africans vaccinated against Covid-19, the South African government has expanded the vaccination programme to include over 500 000 teachers. This is the first step in protecting essential workers outside of the healthcare sector against infection, creating safer workplaces and reducing the impact of staff illness. Reaching vulnerable sectors The vaccination of teachers is scheduled to run until 8 July 2021 to coincide with the end of the second school term. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said 582 000 people are to be vaccinated over 10 to 14 days. “Those to be vaccinated are all PERSAL staff (as of April 2021) in DBE (educators, administrative and support staff) at all public schools; irrespective of their age; School Governing Body
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(SGB) appointed teachers, and those teachers employed by independent schools registered in terms of the South African Schools Act,” Minister Motshekga said. The programme also looked to cover staff who transport children to and from schools; support the school feeding scheme; do remote learning programmes; and staff of teacher unions and other contracted staff who provide security, do cleaning, and other functions at school.
South African businesses have been forming partnerships to assist the government in administering vaccines
“Vaccination is voluntary but highly recommended so that everybody can be protected. Let us work together on this fight against Covid-19 in our spaces,” she said.
Protecting the education sector The education sector will primarily be receiving a consignment of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines, as Aspen has made 300 000 doses available. Teachers are one of the first groups of essential workers to be prioritised for vaccination. Department of Health’s DirectorGeneral, Dr Sandile Buthelezi said those who work in sectors such as education, public service and administration, agriculture, forestry and fishing, electricity and transportation, are more susceptible to contracting the virus. The rollout to teachers comes shortly after a significant setback in the country’s vaccination rollout. South Africa has procured around 31 million J&J vaccines. The first two consignments – totalling two million doses – had been manufactured and were ready for distribution from pharmaceutical company Aspen when contamination concerns
