Real stories from those who can say #IGotMyVaccine
Hayley Kathoke - "Why I had my COVID-19 vaccine"
23-yer-old fashion media student and model, Hayley Kathoke found the start of the pandemic very tough. She'd just moved to Johannesburg from Cape Town and was completely alone for two months, while also studying a new course online. At first Hayley was unsure about having a COVID-19 vaccine. "After hearing about all the science I couldn't see why I should not be vaccinated. It made sense to me."
Vandhana Ramsoonder - "Consider the positive effect that being vaccinated can have."
The COVID-19 pandemic has been emotionally taxing for the Ramsoonder family. "My husband is in the medical field," says 43-year-old Vandhana Ramsoonder. "We were very concerned for him." Their daughter also found the closure of schools very tough. "Then, a close friend lost her husband and we could not be there for her. We watched the funeral from afar - via a link." Vandhana says COVID-19 vaccines brought hope."
Gert Johan Coetzee - "I feel I have done my part for society."
For renowned South African fashion designed Gert Johan Coetzee the faster we are all vaccinated for COVID-19 the sooner we reach a "new normal". The 33-year-old, who contracted COVID-19 at a point, encourages us all to steer clear of the vaccine-related misinformation doing the rounds on social media. Gert Johan received his first vaccine dose in early August 2021.
Kathy Grinwis-Sterling - "Almost everyone was a target and that put an incredible amount of fear in me."
The COVID-19 pandemic brought 21-year-old Kathy Grinwis-Sterling's post-matric plans to au pair in Europe to a grinding halt. She assumed the pandemic would affect unhealthy people most. "Almost everyone was a target and that put an incredible amount of fear in me," she says. She and her friends were very happy to know vaccines were on the way. First they had to overcome the obstacle of misinformation around the vaccines.
Why I had my COVID-19 vaccine: Modise Khoele - "I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing I have that extra defence"
For 31-year old Modise Khoele a cloud of depression, anxiety and worry set in with the COVID-19 pandemic. He was very concerned about how he would continue his work creating travel and adventure content and even more concerned about getting serious COVID-19 illness and leaving his wife behind. "I initially thought that vaccination was a hoax," says Modise. After seeing a few people going through with vaccination and doing well, Modise changed his mind. He and his wife were vaccinated in late August 2021.
Why I had my COVID-19 vaccine: Jessica Roberts - "Our ultimate goal is to protect our children."
Jessica and Jonathan Roberts have three beautiful children. Their oldest child, their son Luke, has Down Syndrome. They are both very aware of the need to protect his health as he has a compromised immune system. "John and I are both very scientifically minded and vaccination was always something we would buy into." Jess was vaccinated in August 2021. Also read Jessica's remarkable story "Learning from Luke" in which she shares her true-life experience of being a mom to a child who has Down Syndrome.
Why I had my COVID-19 vaccine: Buli Ndlovundaba - "From that day I could sleep again."
Buli Ndlovundaba lost a brother to COVID-19 in June 2020. And in July 2021, she lost her mom and a second brother. Buli stopped sleeping due to stress and the fear she felt of dying and leaving her four children behind. Fake news about COVID-19 vaccine side effects worsened her fear. Then her employer assisted her to access information and her vaccination at 1 Discovery Place, Sandton. She says, "After having the jab, I was the one telling people, 'You can do it!' From that day I could sleep again."
"I am okay! I am covered! I am vaxxed - and relaxed!" - Bongani
Bongani Mthombeni-Möller is a 36-year-old entrepreneur, wife and mom. A close friend of hers got COVID-19 and spent six weeks in ICU, and "We lost him," she says. "The uncertainty of COVID-19 baffles me to this day. Being fully vaccinated is liberating. You can have a level of comfort that I am okay, I am covered, I am vaxxed - and relaxed!"
"It breaks my heart to see people being misled by all the misinformed." - Andrew
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significantly negative impact on the tourism industry - in which 29-year-old Andrew de Blocq works. Andrew says: "It's so unpredictable. You might be like me, a young healthy fit person. You contract the disease and there is a risk that you die. Vaccines are the best solution we have right now." He encourages everyone who is eligible to have their vaccine to protect themselves and those around them.
"I did this, and I am fine. I am dispelling all the lies going around." - Zinhle
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced 28-year-old Zinhle Twala to think differently about how to minister and reach out to people in his work as a junior pastor. Zinhle had mixed feelings about being vaccinated for COVID-19. At first, he felt confused by all the fake news about the vaccines.He and his wife are expecting a baby and decided that the only to keep everyone safe was to be vaccinated. "I am vaccinated and part of the solution. "
"If we're all vaccinated, things can get better and we can carry on with our lives" - Zebulon
For Zebulon Maphoru the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was one of months of separation from his family. For 19 years, he has worked as a gardener, away from Limpopo where they live. For him, being protected from COVID-19 disease brought hope in his loneliness. I was scared but then realised it was a good thing," he says. "If you vaccinate it's not easy to be infected.
"I'm a teacher. This is almost my social duty." - Audrey
Audrey Julyan, a 57-year-old schoolteacher shares how difficult the COVID-19 pandemic has been for her and the children she teaches. It all meant real social isolation for months, to keep her 91-year-old father who lives with her, safe from COVID-19 exposure. Audrey was unsure about being vaccinated but thought about it and decided that, "I'm a teacher. This is almost my social duty."
"If ever we get COVID-19 we should be okay." - Grant
Grant Jankes, the father of twin boys worried that the vaccines were developed very fast. He trusted that as a young, fit and healthy person, he need not worry about serious COVID illness. Grant decided to be vaccinated in May, realising that it was the best way to protect himself and his loved ones. "We all have peace of mind that, going forward, if ever we get COVID-19 we should be okay."
"I feel protected. Even if it comes, it can't harm me." - Thoko
57-year-old Thoko Ngwenya bravely shares the impact of the pandemic on her life, loss of work and more. She's pushed past misinformation prevalent in her community to have her COVID-19 vaccine at a Discovery mass vaccination site. And, this has given her hope. The brave pastor says, "Prevention is better than cure." For Thoko, being vaccinated is about protecting herself and others.
"My mom's health was my biggest concern." - Jessica
37-year-old Jessica Johnson shares her COVID-19 recovery journey and shares why she decided to have her COVID-19 vaccine at a Discovery mass vaccination site - mainly a gesture to protect her vaccine-hesitant mom from exposure to COVID-19. Little did she expect that her decision would inspire her mom to have her COVID-19 vaccine too. Jessica's says: "We need to do this!"
Understanding vaccines with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani
Is there any reason for concern around giving COVID-19 vaccines to pregnant and breastfeeding woman?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode, Dr Nolu explores whether or not pregnant and breastfeeding women should get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Is there any evidence that COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode, Dr Nolu busts the myth that COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility, as no clinical evidence supports this.
Have COVID-19 vaccines been authorised for use in children?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode, Dr Nolu explores more about the authorisation of vaccines for children around the world and in South Africa.
What are the common and severe side effects from the covid-19 vaccines?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode, Dr Nolu explores why manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines aren't held responsible for potential side effects.
Why are the manufacturers not held responsible for COVID-19 vaccine side effects?
Join us for conversation with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode, Dr Nolu explores why manufacturers aren't held responsible for COVID-19 vaccine side effects.
Is it likely that South Africa will reach population immunity in the future?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode, Dr Nolu explores what herd immunity is, and explore South Africa's likelihood of reaching it in the future.
Will we need COVID-19 vaccine booster shots in the future?
JJoin us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode, Dr Nolu explores whether we may need COVID-19 vaccine booster shots in the future.
How do COVID-19 vaccines help to reduce the number of new variants of the virus?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode, Dr Nolu explains how getting vaccinated helps to stop new and potentially more dangerous variants of the virus from emerging.
Can COVID-19 vaccines give you COVID-19?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode, Dr Nolu busts the myth that getting vaccinated can infect you with COVID-19 or cause you severe illness.
Can COVID-19 vaccines change your DNA?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode, Dr Nolu she busts the myth that COVID-19 vaccines can change your DNA, and explains how mRNA vaccines and spike proteins really work.
How do we identify misinformation related to COVID-19 and the vaccines?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode, Dr Nolu explains what misinformation is and its dangerous impact on COVID-19 and vaccine rollout.
Why have some countries made COVID-19 vaccines compulsory?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode Dr Nolu explores reasons driving vaccine mandates around the world.
Why should I be vaccinated if I've already had COVID-19?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode Dr Nolu explains why COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for all adults in South Africa, even after we've recovered from a COVID-19 infection.
Can we achieve population immunity for COVID-19?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode Dr Nolu explains the implications of vaccinating a large proportion of the adult population on the spread of COVID-19 infection.
Why is getting my COVID-19 vaccine important?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode Dr Nolu lists several very good reasons for getting a COVID-19 vaccine and explains how being vaccinated protects us and others from serious COVID-19 illness.
What's South Africa's COVID-19 vaccine authorization process?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we dive into the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode Dr Nolu explains that process that all medicines - including our three authorized COVID-19 vaccines - go through before they are made available to the South African public.
It's time to get #VaccineReadySA
Getting your vaccination is safe, quick and easy. Here are all the steps you need to take to get vaccinated. Watch this video and find out your journey on the day of your vaccination.
Join us and stop the COVID-19 pandemic
At Discovery we are doing all we can to help make the national COVID-19 vaccination rollout a success. Once you are vaccinated, you get South Africa closer to population immunity.
Why do vaccines work?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we unpack the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode we dive into how vaccines work in general.
Why were COVID-19 vaccines developed so fast?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we unpack the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode we discuss how and why COVID-19 vaccines were developed so fast.
Which COVID-19 vaccines are available in South Africa?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we unpack the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode we discuss the different COVID-19 vaccines available in South Africa.
Did COVID-19 vaccines go through all required clinical trial phases?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we unpack the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode we discuss COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy and how this was established through rigorous clincal trials on each authorized vaccine.
How do we know if COVID-19 vaccines are safe long-term?
Join us for conversations with Dr Noluthando Nematswerani as we unpack the detail around COVID-19 vaccines. In this episode we discuss current insights into medium- and long-term COVID-19 vaccine safety.
Dr Sumy Thomas says that for the elderly and people who live with chronic illnesses and comorbidities, COVID-19 vaccines are "a matter of life and death".
Professor Salome Maswime shares the profound sense of relief and hope being vaccinated against COVID-19 brought to her and her parents. And, she reminds us that our elderly loved ones, and those in our communities need our help to access their vaccines.
Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Mosa Moshabela has been working behind the scenes to research the virus that causes COVID-19, educate the public and support the National Department of Health and Provincial Government in South Africa.
Professor Liesl Zühlke had her COVID-19 vaccine on 26 February 2021 at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. She shares her experience of the COVID-19 pandemic so far, and encourages all of us to have the vaccine when it is our turn.
Paediatrician and infectious disease specialist Dr Fikile Mabena shares her experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, and encourages all South Africans to help their elderly family members, friends and colleagues to register and get vaccinated.
All medical information found on this website including content, graphics and images, is for education and information objectives only. Discovery publishes content to help to promote a better understand of COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccinations. The content covered is an overview of key concepts and is not exhaustive in nature. We encourage further reading from other credible sources where necessary.
Join millions of South Africans and get your COVID-19 vaccination
Our Discovery COVID-19 Vaccination Navigator is here to guide and support you on your vaccination journey. Use our navigator to book for your vaccination.
