Mokonyane allays vaccine fears: 'Panado has side-effects, so does Covid-19 vaccine'
The African National Congress (ANC) has welcomed government’s efforts in securing a Covid-19 vaccine as the country battles a second wave of infections.
The governing party preached a message of unity when it kicked off its annual January 8 statement on Thursday.
“Our call as the ANC is that we all need to be on one side because the war now is a two-sided war,” said the ANC’s head of organising Nomvula Mokonyane.
“We must make sure that on one side it is the people, government and those who have the ability and the resources to help us to deal with these issues and then the pandemic on the other side.”
Mokonyane’s comments come as the Health Ministry confirmed the procurement of 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca from India.
The country’s healthcare workers will be the first to get a jab when the first consignment arrives later this month.
The second consignment will arrive in February.
Mokonyane also addressed the fears of the Covid-19 vaccine side effects, saying false information and myths regarding side effects of the vaccines will be guarded against.
“The minister himself, comrade Zweli (Mkhize) did raise that there are issues that need to be dealt with as the side effects, just like Panado has got side effects, just like any other medicine has got side effects,” she said.
“What we need to guard against is exaggeration, misinformation and deliberate pushing of our people into a state of panic.”
ALSO READ:
