Manenberg doctor, Randall Ortel, is bringing the vaccination to the mense with his “Vaxi Taxi”.
Dr Randall is driving a three-day programme, called the Manenberg Vaxi Taxi Vaccine Outreach, with a team from EMS and the Manenberg Health Committee.
From 6 to 9 December, the Vaxi Taxi – a converted EMS ambulance – has been doing the rounds at the Manenberg Catholic Church (Monday); The Pitch in Rio Grande Road (Tuesday); the Jireh Chapel (Wednesday); and The Pitch at Isabel Court (Thursday) from 10am to 4pm, where residents 12 years and older can get their Covid-19 jab.
Manenberg residents in Sherwood Park, Primrose Park and Tambo Square are eligible recipients for the free service.
Dr Randall says he wanted to do this for his people as they have don’t have the means to get to the vaccination sites.
The 37-year-old doctor told Daily Voice: “Some are unable to visit a vaccination site due to ill health or reduced mobility, bed-bound, wheelchair-bound or frail.
“The number of vaccinated people are very low and looking at the numbers made me do research on why people aren’t vaxxed.
“I found that people don’t have taxi fares to get to the vaccination stations and people don’t want to walk far to get vaccinated.
“People are also afraid to ask questions and so I take the knowledge to them and educate them about these things ..
“The Manenberg Health Committee went door to door before the Vaxi Taxi came, in order to generate interest and as soon as we had enough interest we, could go out.”
Dr Randall noted there was resistance, saying there was a group of disruptive laaities who could have been sent by anti-vaxxers
“These kids came with banners to say vaccination will kill,” he says.
Clive Alexander, 56, says: “This is something good that came to us, ek is baie bly vir die Vaxi Taxi.”
Candice Philander, 20, has a two-week-old baby and got her vaccine: “This was a really nice gesture, I didn’t have to spend any money to get my vaccine done, the Vaxi Taxi coming to us is really amazing. Now I won’t risk getting sick this festive season.”
Dr Randall says they’ve administered nearly 200 vaccinations a day so far.
venecia.america@inl.co.za