This comes after the Minister of Health, Joe Phaahla, addressed the media on Friday during a site visit to the Free State to monitor vaccination sites. Phaahla, alongside Tsiu and the Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela, said that a team has been put in place to ensure that the department rolls out vaccinations through a proper implementation plan. Phaahla said that vaccinations is not being introduced for negative reasons, but to protect the South African public against the Covid-19. Tsiu says, as the department, it is important to get a positive message out there by addressing the importance of vaccinations for various communities.

“We know as the Department of Health, we cannot do this alone. We need everybody working with us to ensure that we preserve all lives,” Tsiu says.

Premier Sisi Ntombela says they are aiming to vaccinate 1.9 million people in the Free State to reach population immunity in the province. Tsiu, Ntombela and Phaahla paid their respects to victims, remembering the fallen healthcare workers who died as a result of Covid-19 at the Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein.

OFM News/ Blaine Jones