To avoid further lockdowns and get our economy back on track, we need to increase our vaccination momentum, writes the author. Photo: iStock
South Africa’s corporate sector has a massive role in helping the country push up its vaccination rates, writes Kgosi Mogotsi, who is the Regional Corporate Affairs Director at SAB.
As we have seen in recent weeks with the third wave, the Covid-19 vaccine has already made a crucial difference in the fight against one of the most infectious pandemics in recent history.
Statistics released by the Eastern Cape Department of Health have shown that the Covid-19 vaccinations have significantly decreased the number of hospitalisations. According to the Department’s numbers, no vaccinated patients have needed treatment in intensive care units for complications related to the Covid-19.
But, the country’s vaccine programme is still not gaining enough momentum, and the numbers show that it is slowing down. South Africa’s corporate sector has a massive role to play here. As recent successes have shown, businesses in the country can significantly impact the success rate of the vaccine rollout.
Great strides
South African Breweries (SAB) has made great strides in driving vaccination awareness through its government partnerships. The company has formed a partnership with government to help the Department of Health reach its vaccination goal of immunising 10 million adults by December 2021. SAB’s efforts have included converting some of its breweries into pop-up vaccination sites for the general public, and driving awareness campaigns all over the country.
As a corporate leader and longstanding government partner, SAB has sought to support the government’s Covid-19 efforts. As a company that employs many people at facilities in many different regions, SAB has taken advantage of its reach to assist in the vaccination of its staff, their families and the wider communities in which it operates. So far, SAB has rolled out pop-up vaccination sites across Gauteng, Limpopo, Tshwane, Ibhayi, KZN and the Western Cape supported by the MEC’s for Health Dr Phophi Ramathuba, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi and Deputy President David Mabuza.
Getting involved in the fight against the pandemic has also given SAB an opportunity to learn how to react in the face of massive new challenges. It’s no secret that South Africa’s alcohol industry has suffered a severe blow due to the lockdown, and finding ways of helping government reach its goals is also a way of helping our industry recover and restore the jobs that have been lost throughout the pandemic.
Immunisation is widely accepted as one of the world’s most successful medical interventions. Vaccines save millions of lives each year from a wide range of infectious diseases. The Covid-19 vaccine is no different, and the world has already seen the crucial difference that it has made in the fight against one of the most infectious pandemics in recent history.
More can be done
It is safe to say that the rest of corporate South Africa has also felt the impact of the pandemic and the nationwide lockdown. While many of the country’s large companies have already joined the fight, there is still a lot that can be done to help accelerate the vaccination programme. Businesses have the opportunity to live out their values and responsibility to the people of South Africa while also taking part in rebuilding the country’s devastated economy by helping the market get back on track.
READ | Here’s how employers can deal with unvaccinated workers
This is a race against time, but we’re on the right track. The introduction of ‘Vooma Vaccination Weekends’ marks a massive national effort to vaccinate 16 million people by the end of the year. Every effort is being made towards herd immunity.
According to scientists in the country, South Africa can save 20,000 lives by getting Covid-19 vaccinations into 70% of its adult population by the end of the year. With the assistance of corporate giants, we’re well on our way to #TakeDecemberBack and restore our economy with both livers and livelihoods intact.
– Kgosi Mogotsi is the Regional Corporate Affairs Director at SAB.
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