On Monday, the Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu expressed her excitement with the vaccination of the social development sector. Zulu was speaking on the first day of the sector vaccination drive at Tembisa in Ekurhuleni.
Zulu was accompanied by her counterparts, Acting Health Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, Gauteng MEC's of Social Development, Morakane Mosupyoe, and the GP MEC for Health, Nomathemba Mokgethi.
Addressing the media on site, Zulu said the Department aims to vaccinate more than 240 000 frontline workers and their colleagues from 19 July to 23 July 2021.
"We have been working together with the Department of Health from the very beginning. The other issue was about the availability of vaccines, we needed to make sure that as we start, the vaccine was available for the 5-day vaccination rollout period," she said.
One of the frontline workers who received her Johnson & Johnson single dose jab was Social Work Supervisor, Vivienne Mateme from the Gauteng Department of Social Development Kempton Park and Tembisa Office.
She said, "I have been waiting for so long to get vaccinated, so today, I am happy to get the J&J single dose."
"Personally, it is a good feeling to be vaccinated because I have been waiting for it. I felt no pain after they injected me, and the process was so flawless."
"I had to be observed for 15 minutes after taking the jab, with no sign of any side effects I was allowed to leave," she added.
Another staff member who received her jab was Social Work Supervisor, Sonto Noge, from the Substance Abuse Unit in Kempton Park and Tembisa Office.
She said, "I have vaccinated, and the medical practitioners explained the process and possible side effects so that I am more certain before vaccinating. So far, I am feeling good and the process was very smooth."
Mateme and Noge are two of the staff members who were coordinating proceedings at the vaccination site in Tembisa and have called on all employees in the Department, including the security personnel and cleaners to get vaccinated.