Talks of “compulsory vaccination” has Mzansi divided. This, as government is now desperately trying new tricks to get more people vaccinated against Covid-19 while the country battles the Omicron variant.
Omicron is the name given to the new coronavirus variant that currently has large parts of the world panicking. The World Health Organisation says it will take weeks to really know how dangerous it is, but for now it looks like it is “extremely mild.”
Meanwhile, Health For Mzansi readers are divided about the road ahead.
Mangaliso Somdaka (40), an author Kraaifontein in the Western Cape, says he did not yet get vaccinated over “confusing information” in the media.
“I am very perplexed about the logic behind this virus,” says Somdaka, mentioning the decrease in Covid-19 cases during the recent local government elections.
“This new Omicron is still new, and it’s something I’ve been anticipating. As a nation we have our muti such as umhlonyane (African wormwood), and other indigenous muti, to help our bodies function better.
“Our government is providing us with a Western-style virus-fighting formula, which I believe benefits Western culture and businesses. If these vaccines were treating the virus rather than the other way around, I would have believed it.”
Mangaliso Somdaka, Health For Mzansi reader
Another Health For Mzansi reader, Chulumanco Nkasela, feels like she was forced to get the Covid-19 vaccine. The 22-year-old University of the Western Cape student believes the country should have seen “compulsory vaccination” coming. After all, it is already the case with many businesses and even universities.
“I feel like everyone has autonomy over their own bodies and what can be put into them or not. The new Omicron variant is scary to even just think about, but I guess it is something that should have been anticipated.”
‘We are vaxxed and proud’
Meanwhile, in Bloemhof in North West, Omphemetse Mogatusi (26) is tired of lockdowns and variants and hopes South Africans will heed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to get the Covid-19 jab.
“Each and every person needs to be encouraged to get their vax,” says Mogautsi. “We are all tired of Covid-19. However, we need to do something and that is vaccinating so that we can reach the target set out by the president.”
Notozi Mgobozi (75) from kwaLanga in the Eastern Cape tells Health For Mzansi she got Covid-19 in January this year. This inspired the recent Master’s graduate to get the jab as soon as she was healthy enough to do so.
“I know how it feels to have Covid pains, and I don’t want to go through that again. It was truly traumatic,” she says.
“The Omicron variant is quite terrifying, and it makes the vaccinated crew nervous because we aren’t sure how safe we are with it in the way that it is described. We can only hope these protocols keep us safe.”
Health For Mzansi has also spoken to Thandie Tshangela (42), a nurse from Khayelitsha in the Western Cape. She was vaccinated not only because she is a frontline worker, but also because she is a concerned citizen.
“Even if I wasn’t a frontline worker, I’d vaccinate so that I wouldn’t regret it later. “
Thandie Tshangela, Health For Mzansi reader
“By doing so, I believe that vaccinated people are less likely to contract the Covid-19 virus. I am confident that Omicron will be treated. The country should not be alarmed. No virus is permanent, and we will eventually be free.’”
Also in Khayelitsha, Nhlanhla Nkuna (37) says he is concerned that people have forgotten that we are living in a pandemic.
“If only we can put an end to isiphithiphithi (chaos). I’ve been watching how people act since we went back to level 1 lockdown. I don’t know much about Omicron, but I’ve heard it spreads quickly, so we should all get vaccinated and behave properly.’”
Takalane Nemangowe (30) from Yeoville in Gauteng says government should be more aggressive with its vaccine campaign.
“Government needs to go to every corner of this country to make sure people are vaccinated more importantly business must come to the party and assist government in their efforts to get many South Africans to vaccinate.”
Health minister Dr Joe Phaahla, together with a panel of scientists, calls on South Africans to trust government with the Covid-19 process.
“There is no basis for South Africans to panic. We have been here before. This is no new territory. It’s often said you’re better off dealing with an enemy you know than an enemy you don’t know. So you can imagine if we have just seen infections rising and didn’t know what was the cause?”
