Recent statistics from the national Department of Health show that the Western Cape has the greatest percentage of adults vaccinated, standing at over 36,07% (over 1,795,000 residents) on 14 September. This speaks to the outstanding work of the provincial government in distributing vaccines for all eligible residents. And so, we encourage residents to continue to join the vaccination drive and receive their lifesaving jabs that are proving to curb adverse effects and offer excellent protection against serious illness related to Covid-19.
All the best available data continues to tell us that the vaccines work and they are safe. Just recently, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Saphra) confirmed that the deaths of those who have already been vaccinated against Covid-19 are not related to the jabs received.
To date, over 1 million residents in the Western Cape have been fully vaccinated. A word of encouragement, backed by reliable facts, will go a long way in averting hesitancy but more importantly, significantly reduce the risk of Covid-19 for individuals, families and the broader community by getting more residents to join the vaccine drive.
MPP Wendy Philander comments: “Saphra has recorded 86 deaths after immunisation, and not a single case could be linked to receiving any of the Covid-19 vaccines used in South Africa. Our health officials are doing incredible work to make sure that vaccines are safely distributed, received by health facilities, and given to eligible residents.
Another clear sign of the efficacy and safety of Covid vaccines comes from a report at Groote Schuur Hospital this month which showed that only 3 of 156 patients who have been hospitalised for Covid-19 have been vaccinated. Moreover, none of the 66 patients in ICU and 32 patients on ventilators have been vaccinated. Getting vaccinated offers a stronger defence against Covid-19; it really and truly saves lives.
Still, we understand that a number of residents may be hesitant about getting vaccinated. South Africa has a long, sometimes complicated history in public health matters, especially in disadvantaged communities. Others are understandably anxious because they might not have received all the necessary information just yet to make an informed choice. That’s why, as the Chairperson of the Standing Committee of Health, I will propose that the committee embark on mini-public hearings in the Western Cape. The purpose is to listen to the fears that lead to vaccine hesitancy and withhold others from receiving their jabs. The hearings will seek to identify how to target greater encouragement whilst understanding and addressing concerns of residents in the Western Cape where low turn-out has been recorded.
