26 Aug 2021

Health authorities have called for caution following reports that some Batswana were crossing into neighbouring countries for COVID-19 vaccination.

Speaking to BOPA in an interview, Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness Mr Setlhomo Lelatisitswe stated that Botswana respected the laws of sovereign nations.

Therefore, individuals who travelled to other countries such as South Africa for vaccination should ensure they were not in violation of the country’s laws, he said.

In the weekly national update on Monday, presidential COVID-19 task team scientific advisor, Dr Mogomotsi Matshaba advised the public to be wary so as not to find themselves on the wrong side of the visited country’s  laws.

The two were reacting  to recent reports that some locals travelled to South Africa and Zambia for vaccination citing slow progress of vaccine rollout amid escalating COVID-19 cases in the country. 

 Mr Lelatisitswe called on members of the public to exercise patience and take advantage of COVID-19 vaccines offered locally.

 “I can only encourage the public to take the vaccine that we offer in the country as I am certain of its safety because of the due diligence that is taken to check its validity from our medicines regulation authority,” he said. 

He assured the public that efforts were being made to fully vaccinate each resident of Botswana as a means of combating COVID-19. 

Mr Lelatisitswe said more vaccine consignments were expected to arrive soon. 

The assistant minister said he was pleased with the vaccination turnout countrywide.

He encouraged the public to continue going for vaccination and adhering to COVID-19 health regulations.

Mr Lelatisitse said the ministry would continue to improve the physical, mental and social wellbeing of every Motswana to fully contribute to Botswana’s development. Ends