Thumbs up to the community of Laudium and surrounding areas for initiating Tshwane’s first drive-thru vaccination site, which was officially opened at the Zwartkop Raceway in Centurion (near Laudium) yesterday afternoon, with the Premier of Gauteng in attendance.
The initiative is a partnership between the community and the Gauteng Government.
The site, along the R55, will be open to all those aged 35 and over, from Monday to Thursday and on Saturdays from 9am-3pm. On Fridays, the site will be open from 2-4pm.
Social activist, Yusuf Abramjee told the Laudium Sun that the site was up and running within five days. He thanked the Provincial Govt for the partnership, adding, ”The project was based on the successful model used by the Muslim Association of South Africa at the Houghton Masjid in Johannesburg. 10 000 people were vaccinated there over two weeks.”
Volunteers will be running the Zwartkop site with assistance from the Gauteng Health Dept.
Premier David Makhura oversaw the first vaccinations being administered yesterday and congratulated all those who assisted in getting the project off the ground. He added, “I challenge this drive-thru to beat the Houghton Mosque drive-thru. They register on average 900 per day. I want to commend the Muslim community there. They have put their hands together and mobilised their resources and volunteers. You must try to beat this number and have more vaccinations done here.”
Laudium Disaster Management helped mobilize volunteers, with several doctors and medical students also assisting. Over 18’s will be eligible for vaccination from September 1 onwards.
Both the J&J and Pfizer vaccines will be available at the Zwartkop drive-thru.
Local veteran doctor, Dr. Satar Aboobaker, told the Laudium Sun, “The importance of vaccination must be emphasised to our community, as it is not about individualism, but humanity and health. When one is vaccinated, they are not only protecting themselves, but other people who may not have been vaccinated based on health reasons. So, the more of us who get vaccinated, the more we protect our community and that is how we will flatten the curve of the spread of Covid. Remember, the virus spreads easily to those who are not vaccinated. I plead to the community to come and get vaccinated here at Zwartkop Raceway, it’s fast and efficient. The vaccines are safe and effective. Don’t hesitate.”
Laudium Hospital manager, Nancy Nkopana, said, “Thanks to everyone who has assisted us, and those who have already joined us as volunteers. We are still in need of administrators, nurses (even if you have retired), car guards and marshals.”
*PS: Residents can also have their Covid vaccinations done for free at Forest Hill Shopping Center.
