By Zuleikha Ahmed

02:06:2021

As more vaccines have been made available to South Africa and the creation of more vaccine sites, we ask what is being done to ensure that rural communities have the same privileges as the rest of the country.

Most of these areas affected by inadequate health facilities cannot reach all citizens, making it challenging to get vaccinated.

Naomi Sighwabela, “Right to Care,” chief of vaccinations, says: “As we know, no one was expecting such a pandemic to take place, so as much as the government has tried to raise funds and put out their teams, they need help from anyone and everyone that can assist.”

Right to Care, working with the Medical Research Council on the Sisonke trials, getting health care workers vaccinated, have learnt many lessons which are assisting in streamlining the current phase of the vaccine rollout.

In conjunction with the Department of Health, a rural vaccination program in the Eastern and Northern Cape funded by the US Government has been set up, using mobile sites, making it easier for the rural communities to get their jabs.

By establishing good communication with the ministries and government, we can help get vaccines across the country.

Many people speculate and debate on being vaccinated in suburban areas, and the picture could be different in rural areas.

The word out there is that many people are sceptical about taking the vaccine, but when we get to the communities, there is a different outcome and a lot more positive responses to taking the vaccine.

Vaccines are to protect or save one from reaching the worst of a virus. It can help save lives and prevent one from becoming very ill from the infection caused by the virus.

One must, however, get pre-vaccine advice and how to look after yourself after being vaccinated.