​​​​Dear students and colleagues

At the time of writing this, nearly 11 million of South Africa's population of approximately 60 million people have been vaccinated against COVID-19. This is great news, but we'll need to increase this number significantly over the next few weeks if we want to have a chance of beating the coronavirus.

As you are aware, anyone over the age of 18 is now eligible for the vaccine in SA. This means that the overwhelming majority of you are able to get the jab. And I urge you, not just as Rector and Vice-Chancellor but also as a medical professional, to get vaccinated. I received the vaccine as soon as I could and experienced no side-effects.

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok are abuzz with people receiving their shots, flooding social media timelines and newsfeeds with videos and selfies from vaccination sites across the country. I support this one hundred percent. If there were ever a time to be proud of a selfie, that time is now! I encourage you to show your friends and family that you got vaccinated by downloading the vaccination profile picture frame on the Stellenbosch University (SU) Facebook page and tagging SU in your post. 

Seeing photos of the long queue outside SU's  vaccination site at the Lentelus Soccer Clubhouse in Hammanshand Road, Stellenbosch, have made me extremely proud of our students and staff members who have decided to be part of the solution. Like I've said before: “No jab, no jol!"

For those of you who have already received your vaccination, well done and thank you.

For those who are hesitant, I want to reassure you: The COVID-19 vaccine, whether you receive the Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson dose, is completely safe. It has been tested, approved by medical authorities and – most significantly – it is saving lives.

That's what vaccines are designed to do and have been doing for decades across the globe. Vaccines helped eradicate smallpox and prevent diseases like polio and TB from causing severe illness and death. And now it is doing the same for COVID-19.

In this time of misinformation, fake news and conspiracy theories, we all have to be vigilant about our information sources. So, when you read up about COVID-19 and the vaccine, or watch videos on the subject, check your sources and make sure they're reputable. The FAQs section on our vaccination page is a good place to start.

Please continue to mask up, maintain your distance from others, sanitise, avoid crowded and poorly ventilated spaces and follow all COVID-19 protocols.

We live in challenging times. Don't be afraid to ask for help and contact the Centre for Student Counselling and Development and our Campus Health Service or Human Resources Division if you have any questions.

Go get your jabs!

Regards,Prof Wim de Villiers Rector and Vice-Chancellor