The Free State's Health spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, said they opened one of their vaccination stations at K-LA-K Car Wash, Braai and Entertainment, where they targeted 18 to 34-year-olds to get their Covid-19 jabs. 

Mvambi said it is part of the department’s initiative to encourage young people, on whom the country's vaccine hopes are pinned now. According to Mvambi, the department needs the 18 to 34-year-olds to vaccinate and assist in spreading the message to the rest of the country, as they are at the forefront of the entertainment space and they are out there in the vulnerable, public spaces where they are prone to potential infections.

“We are hopeful that this age group will show up and vaccinate. We are doing all in our power as the province to make sure that we collaborate various stakeholders and partners to communicate the message of the need to vaccinate, because if we vaccinate, we are increasing the chances of our people not becoming seriously ill or dying when infected with Covid-19,” said Mvambi.

He said the Health Department successfully administered a total of 2 974 jabs in the 18 to 34-year-old category, after 32 533 registered for vaccines. According to Mvambi, the vaccination target of the province on a daily basis is 10 000. The province has targeted about 800 000 people between 18 and 34, as part of the vaccination drive, to contribute towards the projected herd immunity in the Free State.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi