To Boost Vaccinations, South Africa Opens Jabs To All Adults

MOGOMOTSI MAGOME and NQOBILE NTSHANGASE

AT THE busy taxi stand near Soweto’s Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital, a health worker with a megaphone called out to commuters, calling them to come and get a COVID-19 vaccination.

Olekantse Serati was one of the dozens of people who decided to get jabs on Friday.

“It is a good thing that they’ve brought the vaccines to us here at the Bara taxi rank so we don’t have to go the vaccination centers or hospitals,” said Serati in the Tswana language. “It’s also good that you can receive the jab quick and be on your way home straight after.”

Johnson & Johnson jabs were given so only one dose is needed. The pop-up center is part of South Africa’s efforts to boost the flagging numbers of vaccinations.

“We realized that many people are too busy, they do not have time to go to our vaccine