07 Mar 2022

Kanye District Health Management Team (DHMT) is worried about low numbers of people who turn up for first or second COVID-19 vaccine as well as those who get their booster shots.

In an interview with BOPA recently, Kanye DHMT senior health officer, Mr Nametsegang Mogotsi indicated that they were registering low numbers of people who came for vaccinations.

He explained that their target was to vaccinate 46 817 of age 18 and above bracket in the area, hence their concern with the rate at which people were coming for vaccinations.

Mr Mogotsi said they had so far vaccinated 45 538 people who came for the first dose, 21 666 for second dose and 35 756 had fully vaccinated, while only 5 965 had taken booster shots.

As for 12 to 17-year bracket, he said they managed to administer first doses to all school-going children and were currently on second dose campaign.

“We made arrangements with Ministry of Basic Education to vaccinate students at schools,” he said.

He further explained that they were currently administering first doses to form four pupils since they only recently started going to school.

He appealed to those in the same age bracket, but were out of school to visit vaccination centers to get their doses.

Mr Mogotsi said his team had resorted to traverse Kanye DHMT area educating residents on the importance of vaccinations and booster shots.

“We have realised that some people were not aware of booster shots while others wanted to boost with vaccines they took as first and second doses,” he added.

Mr Mogotsi indicated that all vaccines served the same purpose in the body, therefore people should not be choosy when it came to booster shots.  

He highlighted that since the winter season was approaching, there was a possibility of an increase in COVID-19 cases, hence the need to have fully vaccinated and taken a booster shot.

“The virus is still active, people should not let their guard down, and we have to use all these vaccines before they expire,” he said.  

District community health nurse, Ms Tebogo Taolo advised Batswana to stop spreading misinformation about the vaccines, adding that some had not vaccinated because of such misinformation.

She advised those who experienced pains after taking the first dose and decided not to take the second one, to complete the vaccination process, adding that health officials were the only ones with solutions to their experiences. ENDS