Staff Reporter
The Free State province says it vaccinated at least 4 282 personnel in the education sector on the first day of a vaccination campaign for teachers and non-teaching staff.
The province has set itself an ambitious target of 10 days to complete the vaccination instead of the 14 days set for the rest of the country.
Provincial health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said in a statement jointly released by Free State departments of health and education that vaccinations started in all the five districts yesterday.
He said all eligible persons are expected to present themselves at vaccination sites to be vaccinated over the set period.
Premier Sisi Ntombela is quoted in the statement as saying the vaccination of teachers was long-overdue as they have remained on the frontlines against the scourge of COVID-19 infections which resulted in the closure of schools and disruptions to the school calendar.
“Cast your memory back to Level 5, these educators advocated for schools to be opened and measures to be put in place to prevent infections whilst safeguarding the futures of our children,” said Ntombela.
“Their persistence yielded results because their prayers were answered with schools (being) opened and the Free State earning itself a champion status by defending its title in matric results,” she said.
A total of 2 154 teachers and support staff were vaccinated in Mangaung Metro on Wednesday, followed by Thabo Mofutsanyana with 1 320; Lejweleputswa 395; Fezile Dabi 283 and Xhariep 120.
Health MEC Montseng Tsiu said she was pleased with the teachers’ level of eagerness to be vaccinated.
“The fact of the matter is that we have experienced unexpected levels of infections amongst the educators because schools are an extension of society and whatever happens in our communities finds a way to schools,” she said.
“Our educators are on the frontline and they are negatively affected and rendered vulnerable if left unattended.
“We are committed as a province to ensure that every frontline worker or essential services personnel get vaccinated when their turn comes . . .”