A young woman from Stellenbosch has been making it her mission to not only follow healthcare workers’ advice and get vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19, but also to take others in her neighbourhood for vaccination.
As Wardah Adicary was working at a school as part of her studies for a Masters Degree in History, she realised she was in an environment where she could easily get sick and infect her parents, who both have chronic conditions. “I’ve convinced others to also get vaccinated by sharing my motivation for vaccination. Because of my studies, it is natural for me to also refer to the past to encourage others to vaccinate,” Adicary says.
“There was the Spanish Flu. We have been vaccinated against measles and small pox. Why not against Covid-19? We need to talk about the past to see how we can use it to change the future.”
The 24-year-old recently went to Cloetesville Community Day Centre for her Covid-19 booster dose so that her body’s defence against the virus will stay as high as possible. She and her father have spoken to many people in the neighbourhood about Covid-19 vaccination.
She says most older people have been vaccinated, but younger people like herself still need to step up. “I usually ask them why they have not been vaccinated or why they are not willing. Usually, they are uninformed or misinformed about the vaccine’s safety. But I have been able to convince some and to bring them for vaccination – mostly friends of the family.”
Wardah’s message to people who still need to get vaccinated or return for a booster, is simple: “Don’t be afraid of change.”
Vaccination opportunities
Cloetesville Community Day Centre (the ‘day hospital’ near Cloetesville Police), as well as Groendal Clinic, Ida’s Valley Clinic, Kayamandi Clinic, Klapmuts Clinic, and Stellenbosch University’s Lentelus Sports Ground provide Covid-19 vaccination (Mondays to Fridays from 09:00 to 15:00, excluding public holidays). Distell Bergsig Vaccination Centre also offers vaccination on Mondays to Fridays from 08:00-16:00 (public holidays excluded).
People near Don & Pat Bilton Clinic in Jamestown, can visit the clinic for vaccination/boosters on Mondays and Wednesdays (09:00-15:00), while people in the Kylemore area can go to Kylemore Clinic on Thursdays (09:00-15:00). Please note that these vaccination sites are not open on public holidays.
