Garden Route mayors get the jab

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Mayor Memory Booysen and mayors from local municipalities in the Garden Route called on all Garden Routers eligible to register (35 years and older) to get their COVID-19 jab.

Booysen received his first COVID-19 jab at the Thembalethu Clinic in George on 8 July and will receive his second on 19 August.

“I want to make it clear, the medical industry has clearly stated that minor side-effects after receiving your jab are normal and do not mean that it is more or less effective," said Booysen.

He said that with the help of Western Cape MEC for Health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo’s three-day visit two weeks ago, a lot of awareness was created and many Garden Routers became better informed about the importance of taking the COVID-19 vaccines to prevent severe illness.

Details of each mayor's vaccination status have been made publicly available and include:

* Hessequa Mayor Grant Riddles received his first jab on 19 July and will get his second one at the end of August.

* Mossel Bay Mayor Harry Levendal received his first jab on 9 June and his second in July.
* Knysna Mayor Ricky van Aswegen received his first jab on 9 July and his second one is on 20 August.

* Bitou Mayor Sandiso Gcabayi received his first vaccine dose on 16 July and will receive his second one on 27 August.

* Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality Mayor Chris Macpherson received his first vaccine dose on 10 June and his second one 22 July.

* Kannaland Mayor Magdalena Barry received her first vaccine dose on 23 June and received her second one on 11 August.

Garden Route Mayor Memory Booysen received his first COVID-19 jab at the Thembalethu Clinic in George on 8 July.

"Mayors agree that there remains a strong alignment between saving lives and saving livelihoods – two inseparable priorities. They’ve asked that the generation of tech-savvy youngsters go out of their way to help their elders with registering. It is easily done in a quick and simple process," said Booysen.

"Mayors also trust the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) findings of the current vaccines and their efficacy, safety and quality are up to standard. This is only one of many other reasons why all Garden Routers are urged to register when it’s their turn to fight back against COVID-19 and continue to save lives and livelihoods."

Mossel Bay Mayor Harry Levendal received his first jab on 9 June. With him is Sister Meyer.