This is according to the departmental spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, who told OFM News in an exclusive interview on Sunday 16 May 2021.

"We have seen that the sixty-year-old persons [and older] were those who suffered most with severe illness in the absence of a vaccine. We have promoted the vaccine because it is much more likely to prevent severe illness and death in this category of people."

He said it is important for older people to take the vaccine because they are often rendered vulnerable by the younger, with their stronger immune system, who tend to be reckless and get infected when not observing non-pharmaceutical interventions against Covid-19.

Mvambi further said the consequence for not vaccinating is simply that the older person will be vulnerable to any ailment that may lead to severe illness which can result in unnecessary death that could have been prevented.

According to the provincial government, it is expected that the Health MEC, Montseng Tsiu, will be kick-starting the Covid-19 roll-out vaccination in Thekolohelong, Qwaqwa, on Monday.

OFM News/Tumelo Khotha