Van Vuuren, tells OFM News, that presently the number of adult South Africans that are willing to inoculate against the coronavirus is abysmal as compared to the capacity for vaccination. Which is why he thinks if adults don’t want to vaccinate, then it may be a good idea to let minors do so, since the resources are available. Van Vuuren says even though a very small percentage of people below the age of 18-years-old have fallen gravely ill from the novel virus or have died, he believes the more places we can break the chain of Covid-19 transmission the better.

“They can infect their parents and grandparents. If you can get them vaccinated, you can stop these outbreaks. Secondly you’ll be able to run your matric exams without problems. We can have schools open. We can have sports events. With the excess capacity and more than enough vaccines, I think it’s a good idea to have the kids vaccinate if their parents don’t want to” says Van Vuuren.

At present the Free State still has the second highest active Covid-19 cases in the country, with 5999 cases, followed closely by the Northern Cape at 5 995 cases. Kwazulu-Natal is still reeling from the effects of the July riots, with over 16 000 recorded active cases. With respect to vaccination figures, over 966 000 people have been jabbed in the Free State, with over 1 million in the North West having had received their 1st/2nd primary doses.

 In September when  Health Minister, Joe Phaahla, was in Bloemfontein, he called on the Free State Health Department to kick its vaccination campaign into a higher gear if it intended on meeting its target of inoculating 70% of the province’s population. He alluded during his visit that the province is lagging a bit behind on its target of getting 1.9 million people vaccinated to reach herd immunity. Despite his own reservations the Free State Health MEC, Montseng Tsiu, and Premier, Sisi Ntombela, assured those present that has been put in place to ensure that the department rolls out vaccinations through a proper implementation plan. During the Vooma vaccination campaign Phaahla was joined by Tsiu in the Eastern Free State to encourage locals to get jabbed.

OFM News