GEORGE NEWS - The coronavirus and its associated deadly disease, Covid-19, have devastated South Africa over the past 18 months, claiming more than 86 000 lives in the official death toll, although experts believe the real numbers are probably much higher, because of the huge number of "excess deaths" in that period.

Vaccines to protect against infection but more importantly, against severe illness, hospitalisation and even death, are now available across the country - for free.

Scientific studies have shown not only that these jabs are highly effective in reducing the number of hospitalisations and deaths, but that they are overwhelmingly safe.

Yet, not everybody is convinced about either of these two facts, so there is a worrying level of vaccine hesitancy among ordinary South Africans - and understandably so, given the bewildering tsunami of information about the virus.

We, as Group Editors, Caxton Local Media, The Citizen, Caxton Group and its components, believe that vaccination is the only way to beat this pandemic and the only way to get our lives back to normality.

So, over the next few weeks and months, we will be bringing you trustworthy information about Covid and the vaccines - and stories from people on the front line of the virus war, as well as how Covid has affected ordinary people and their lives.

So, join us - vaccinate… and own your life. 

Brendan Seery is the Deputy Editor of The Citizen.

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