DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane says there is no agreement between the department and big retailers to make people get vaccinated in order to score discounts.
Addressing the media on Sunday, Simelane said the government would not force people to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as this was against the country’s constitution.
“Vaccination remains a voluntary exercise and we will not force people to do so against their will. Where there are instances (of businesses) offering discounts to people that are vaccinated, they are doing so on their own, not in partnership with the government,” said the MEC.
Her comment follows comments in the media where one big retailer belonging to a large group had a notice offering a 10% discount to shoppers who are vaccinated.
Simelane said the department had opted to use leading public figures including media personalities and artists to take part in the campaign to encourage people to be vaccinated.
She said this effort had been received positively in the areas where the department had conducted visits with many people showing an eagerness to get vaccinated.
“We will continue using influencers as we try to get more of our people to get vaccinated,” said the MEC.
KZN is vaccinating about 30 000 people per day. In order to reach the target of 7.2 million vaccinations by 31 March 2022, the province needs to vaccinate at least 60 000 people per day.
THE MERCURY