When a Goodwood resident received a phone call saying that she won the grand prize of R1 million in the Absa Life Vaccination Campaign, she could not believe it.
“I was numb, but after I received the email confirming that I am the winner of the grand prize I realised it’s not a prank or hoax and I realised that I am really a millionaire. 48 hours after the email the money was in my bank account and that feeling when I saw the amount in my account I cannot explain to anybody as it is a feeling that I’ve never experienced before,” she says.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, she told TygerBurger she invested the money and will spoil her immediate family during the year.
“After Covid-19 hit the world in March 2020 and the World Health Organisation revealed that a vaccine is being manufactured to kerb Covid-19 I told my family that I would never take a vaccine that is ready to be injected in such a short period of time. In October I got Covid badly and was ill for a month. When I recovered from the covid I promised myself that if I can prevent having that experience again by taking the jab, I would do so.
“Being in the education sector I took the Johnson & Johnson jab in 2021 and I must admit I was scared that I would have a bad reaction after being sick the previous year.
“I took the jab for my parents and family, as well as the learners that I am in contact with daily. At the end of 2021 I got covid again, but only experienced mild symptoms because I was already jabbed. I was eternally grateful for that jab, as I don’t wish anyone my experience when I was ill in 2020,” she says.
Her message to those who are contemplating taking the jab or not is that you have your own free will and you do have choices.
“Look at your circumstances, weigh the pros and cons and we all know that people are scared. My suggestion is that you read up on all the information pertaining to Covid-19, pay attention to the evidence published in the media or in chats on television and make an informed decision to jab or not to jab.
“I have no malice towards people who are not in favour of the jab, if asked why I took the jab I’ll gladly share my reason for taking it after being sick with Covid,” she says.
According to Asha Speckman, spokesperson for the Absa Life Vaccination Campaign, the competition ran from 11 October 2021 until 9 January this year.
The competition was open to Absa Life customers.
“The aim of the competition was to thank customers for doing their bit to protect themselves and others against the further spread of the Covid-19 virus,” Speckman says.
Entrants were entered into a weekly prize draw of R100 000 and were eligible for the grand prize of R1 million.
