Cosatu concerned about vaccine certificates, slowing vaccination rate

This comes amid concerns around the country’s slowing Covid-19 vaccination rate.

While the country has sufficient capacity to vaccinate more than 300,000 people a day, the numbers are falling well below that target.

Government will on Friday introduce the Vooma vaccination campaign as part of efforts to overcome vaccine hesitancy.

Cosatu’s Sizwe Pamla says government needs to do more.

“Much more needs to be done to engage, educate and address the concerns of those who are hesitant to vaccinate.  Government, educational institutions, religious sector, the media, unions, civil society, and business all need to play their role in this regard.

“Additional measures to boost vaccine demand are needed and these should include opening vaccinations to persons over 12 years of age, providing booster shots for health workers and those over 60 years of age or with co-morbidities.  It should also include incentives and rewards that some businesses are now providing.”

The trade union federation also remains sceptical about the introduction of vaccine certificates.

“We need to know how they will be protected from abuse, fraud and corruption and be accessible to persons in rural areas or those without access to technology.  

“We cannot afford a situation where people end up buying vaccine certificates and then our entire vaccine programme’s integrity will be questioned.  This will defeat the very purpose of persuading and mobilising people to vaccinate.”

Pamla says Cosatu is also worried about the big increase in the number of people allowed at public gatherings.

“The massive increase in numbers for public gatherings is very worrying and may accelerate the anticipated fourth wave in November.  Government needs to reconsider what is potentially a reckless and unnecessary easing of restrictions.  

“This will be worsened in the run up to the local government elections.”

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