Newcastle is getting vaccinated against Covid-19. The vaccine roll-out started last week with the first batch of healthcare workers getting the vaccine. At the time of going to press, about 7 337 healthcare workers in KwaZulu-Natal were given the jab, said premier Sihle Zikalala.
In his recent State of Province address, Zikalala said that the inoculation process was progressing well. “At least 33 399 people have already registered for the first phase of the vaccination roll-out in the province. Most of our healthcare workers have reported a renewed sense of positivity and feeling protected.
“We assure all healthcare workers, frontline workers, police officers, teachers, financial services staff and other categories of people who interface with the public and citizens across the province that they too will soon get the Covid-19 vaccine. We have not forgotten about them and they will get an opportunity to get vaccinated once more doses become available,” said Zikalala. He also reiterated that that as the government, they are fully aware and understand the urgency of the need to get as many people vaccinated as soon as possible for population immunity to be achieved.
The second phase of the vaccination roll-out programme will cover frontline workers, people aged 60 and above and those who are 18 and above and with co-morbidities. The third phase will take care of the general public; that is those who are over 18 but with no co-morbidities. Resident Sheona Ramothar, 27, who is a radiographer at the Newcastle Provincial Hospital said that since there was so much uncertainty around the safety of the vaccine, she did her own research. She said that although South Africans were calling it a “vaccine roll-out”, it is in fact trial-based and she has given her consent to be part of the programme.
“I chose to be a part of the programme because research proves that it is 100 percent effective against death. I think my number-one priority in this Covid-19 pandemic is to stay alive, even if I do happen to contract coronavirus in the future,” said Ramothar.
She said that to be skeptical of the vaccine was normal and urges those who are unsure to read up on the Johnson and Johnson as well as the Sisonke vaccines and prepare for possible side effects if you are to experience any.
When asked if she experienced any side effects, Ramothar said that she closely monitored herself for 24 hours following the jab. “I was monitoring myself for the possible side effects, however, apart from the vaccinated arm being slightly sore, I was perfectly fine and lucky to have no side effects,” she said.
One of the main reasons many are afraid to take the vaccine is that many, including healthcare workers have a phobia of needles. “I am generally not a needle-person. I was expecting this big needle but to my pleasant surprise it was just like that of the flu shot. The injection itself was not painful, however my arm was a little bit sore afterwards which was expected,” she said.
Ramothar said that she was very impressed with the set-up at the Madadeni Provincial Hospital where she received her vaccine, saying that the staff were friendly and made sure that each person was okay before being discharged after observation.
