​Thembisa Shologu
Not even conspiracy theories, misinformation or fake news on the COVID-19 vaccine could deter Jeanett Mthetho from getting her jab.
Mthetho from Katlehong School for Deaf and Blind was amongst the first to take the Pfizer vaccine during the commencement of the education sector vaccination roll-out programme, in June.
"I heard negative stories from people on social media but I told myself that, that will not stop me from taking the vaccine and I went for it. 
"I got my first jab on 15 June and the second one on July 27, I did this because I wanted to protect myself and my loved ones from this deadly COVID-19 disease," said Mthetho.
After being inoculated, Mthetho said she experienced a headache, running tummy and painful joints, which did not last long.
Early June, the national Department of Basic Education announced that teachers and non-teaching staff were next in line to be vaccinated. This drive was in the context of catching up with the learning losses experienced since March 2020, as a direct result of COVID-19. 
Since then, the sector has reported a successful vaccination programme with more than 517,000 out of 582 000 teachers and non-teaching personnel who have received their vaccines. In Gauteng the number stands at about 118 444.
Gauteng MEC for Health Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi has welcomed the way the public continues to respond to the call to get the COVID-19 jab as the province expands access to vaccination sites.
"Gauteng government increased the number of public vaccination sites that were operational over the last weekend from four to 17 sites across the province with a total of 5449 vaccines administered in these sites over the weekend. 
"The fact that we have gone over one million people vaccinated during the month of July and are fast approaching two million talks to the high demand in communities to get vaccinated and the urgency with which we are approaching the vaccination rollout programme," said MEC Mokgethi.
Dr Mokgethi said that government's vaccination rollout programme was anchored on the principles of inclusivity to ensure that no one was left behind. 
"We have diverse vaccination sites, those that are fixed and open weekly during normal working hours, mass vaccination sites catering for large volumes, drive-thru sites allowing people to get the jab in the comfort of their transportation and mobile or pop up sites that move from area to area depending on the programme of the vaccination campaign," she added. ENDS