The second round of CPUT’s Vooma vaccination campaign saw nearly 2,000 people receiving their vaccinations at pop-up sites on the various campuses and the vaccination centre in Bellville.

Vaccination Manager Benjamin de Waal said 1 992 people were vaccinated, including 813 at the pop-up sites and 1179 at the Bellville centre. 

He said much of the campaign's success hinged on the efforts of Melanie Swanson, Head of the HIV/Aids unit, and their team of peer educators. The Central SRC also supported the campaign.

Swanson said that as the head of the HIV/AIDS Unit, she coordinated all the off-campus Vooma vaccination drives to ensure their successful execution.

“The HIV/AIDS Unit team, including peer educators, played a key role in social mobilising students to participate in the vaccination programme. We used a similar model for HIV testing and health screening at our campuses and campus residences. This has proven to work well in the past and now for the vaccination drive.”

She added that the HIV/AIDS Unit has also played an essential role in the supply of PPE (personal protective equipment) and monitoring compliance.

The HIV/AIDS Unit initiated the following:

• Engaged student leadership one-on-one regarding the importance of the vaccination programme and involved them throughout the campaign. Swanson said they played an outstanding and supportive role in these endeavours.
• Regularly shared COVID-19 and vaccination information about the campaigns on all their social media platforms (CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit)
• Initiated a TikTok vaccination competition where students were invited to use educational and creative ways to record their vaccinations via TikTok. The top four creative TikToks were selected and posted on their social media page. The broader student population selected the best TikTok. These TikToks were viewed more than 5000 times, more than 1000 likes, and over 600 comments were received. These are now used on their social media pages to educate students about the importance of vaccination.
• Bulk SMSs per campus were sent to announce the campaigns.
• Branded shopper bags were distributed to each student who got vaccinated. This consisted of a 16 GB flash drive / EarPods, health information, condoms, leaflets and student services. To date, 3,000 shopper bags have been distributed through these campaigns.
• Vaccinated peer educators were trained to mobilise their peers to get vaccinated. Each campus has a representation of peer educators who actively promoted the Vooma Vaccination Drive, including door-to-door visits at residences.
• Another important factor was having a DJ playing music that the students enjoyed. This was a perfect drawing card.
• CSRC provided a lunch pack at Mowbray campus for each vaccinated student.
• On one of the days at D6, a healthy snack was provided to those who got vaccinated.
• A Q&A regarding the vaccination drive was distributed at almost all campus residences.
• Bulk printed Vooma Vaccination flyers that announced the different campaign dates and a lucky draw of R5000 that should be announced.
• During registration, while students waited for their student cards, the unit used the opportunity to engage them.

Peer educators group leader at the D6 campus, Siliziwe Nomnqa, said it was fun to participate in the campaign, and students well received it.

“We’ve been talking about vaccination; we’ve been engaging with our peers, and I think that’s also why they (students) came in numbers; they now understand what vaccination is.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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CPUT’s Vooma vaccination days are back, and students are being encouraged to get their shots to protect themselves and others.

Participating students can win one of two R 5000 cash prizes or one of ten R1 000 cash prizes.

The campaign kicks off at the Bellville campus today, and there will be goodie bags for all students who come to get vaccinated.

“We hope to provide 3,000 or more vaccinations over the entire campaign,” said vaccination manager Benjamin de Waal.

The dates and venues are as follows:

• 28 February to 4 March - Bellville Campus Vaccination Centre
• 7 to 11 March – D6 Campus, Admin building
• 16 March – Wellington Campus Student Centre
• 29 March – Mowbray Campus
• 30 March Catsville Residence
• 31 March – Granger Bay Campus

Students wishing to enter the competition need to register on OPA via https://opa.cput.ac.za if they have not already done so in the past.   

Walk-ins are also welcome. Students need to bring along their student cards and Identity Documents.

Last year’s Vooma campaign was a huge success.

Melanie Marais, Head of the HIV/Aids Unit, encouraged students to vaccinate.

“This is an act of good citizenship. Getting your Covid-19 jab is the most responsible thing anyone can do. If you don’t want to do it for yourself, do it for your loved ones, friends, and anyone around you. Too many people have lost their lives. Our economy has suffered enough. The power is in your hands to help change the tide of this pandemic by getting vaccinated,” said Marais.

De Waal added that vaccination will increase individual and community protection even for people who have had Covid-19.

“Booster vaccinations are equally essential to ensure immunity levels remain high in anticipation of a possible fifth wave expected towards winter. Those who are hesitant should consider that the COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for use by health authorities across the globe. The vaccines have been studied thoroughly, and their effectiveness and safety have been proven and are being monitored across the world.“

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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