Cape Town - Rarely does a lifestyle market offer the chance for people in attendance to receive vaccinations and booster shots and yet that was the case at this weekend’s Wynberg Family and Lifestyle Market.
As part of the Western Cape Health Department’s efforts to get more people vaccinated, mobile sites were set up at the festival to help Cape Town in the fight against the current Covid-19 pandemic. Other festivities included food, carnival rides and live entertainment.
Dr Saadiq Karriem, the Western Cape Government Health COO, commented during the festival that it presented a wonderful opportunity for people to get vaccinated.
“I would like to encourage people to take full advantage of this opportunity to get vaccinated as part of the department’s strategy to make vaccination as easy and accessible as possible.”
Both the Johnson&Johnson and Pfizer vaccine and boosters were available and the Vaxi Taxi services made it easier for those who previously had difficulty getting to vaccination sites to now get their jab.
Among those at the festival to receive their booster shot was Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
“I got my SMS on Monday and have been meaning to go for my booster shot the whole week. Thankfully today the Vaxi Taxi was right here at the festival. And that’s the point of creating increased opportunities to access vaccines. It was easy, took two minutes to get my shot and it was done. This is the only way to get over this pandemic and get awesome events like this festival going again.”
Event director Rozario Brown also expressed his delight at how popular the vaccinations were.
“I had my reservations about it but on Thursday, about 50 people came to the event and went straight to the vaccinations. On Friday that number grew to about 60 or 70 and by Saturday we had over 100 people get vaccinated.”
He continued by saying it was so important for people to get their vaccinations and boosters so that we are able to return to living normal lives.
“As much as possible, we want to use our events to help the government with the vaccine roll-outs so that we can open up our economy again.”
The market’s huge success was not solely down to the vaccinations on offer but it went a long way to making the market more fun and enjoyable for everyone there.
matthew.petersen@inl.co.za