Johannesburg – The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) said in a statement that the government has informed them that journalists are frontline workers and stand next in line to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
“Journalists, as designated frontline workers have risked their lives every day for the past 16 months, working throughout the pandemic as part of their responsibility to the public. Even during the different peaks of the pandemic, they have not had the option to suspend work or work from home because of the nature of their work and the critical service they provide. They have traversed the country, going to hospitals, clinics, vaccination sites, mass rallies, press conferences etc to reflect on the pandemic, in service to the country to ensure that the public is adequately informed,” reads the statement.
SANEF said they were informed of the decision yesterday.
“Journalists will be next in line as soon as all media houses submit their information regarding their employees’ age groups and regions where they are stationed. All community media establishments around the country including freelance journalists will also receive forms that they must complete and submit to Government Communications and Information System (GCIS),” read the statement.
They said details about the programme and what needs to be done to get the whole sector vaccinated will be forthcoming.
“We call on all journalists and the media fraternity to vaccinate so that the government can quickly move onto the next priority sectors.”
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