NC kicks off phase 2 of Covid-19 vaccination programme

Benida Phillips|Published 3 years ago

As part of launching phase 2 of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out, the provincial Health MEC, Maruping Lekwene, joined the vaccination team at Harmony Home in Kimberley, to provide support and wish the team well. The MEC also visited the home run by the Galeshewe Association for the Care of the Aged. Picture: Facebbok

WITH about 11,000 persons older than the age of 60 in the Northern Cape registered on the Electronic Vaccination Data System, the provincial Department of Health has stated that it is “all systems go” to roll out Phase 2 of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

The department said that 3,510 people, including registered health care workers and persons older than 60, will be vaccinated as the Province kicks off phase 2 on Monday.

Department spokesperson Lebogang Majaha said that they had received the first batch of three trays of Pfizer vaccine doses on the weekend.

“With these doses, we are in a position to vaccinate 3,510 people, including health care workers and over 60s registered in Sol Plaatje Local Municipality.

“On Sunday, May 16, 2021, the Minister of Health, Dr Zwei Mkhize, together with the National Health Council, provided details to the public about the phase 2 mass vaccination campaign that kickstarts on May 17, 2021. Phase 2 is targeted at our most vulnerable older people, 60 years and older, and then moving on to vaccinating essential workers, people in congregate settings and people with comorbidities.”

Majaha said the department aims to vaccinate all persons over the age of 60 in old age homes in the Sol Plaatje municipal area this week using the Pfizer vaccine.

“In addition to vaccinating persons older than 60 and health care workers at the Harmony Home vaccination site, the department has deployed mobile vaccination teams to visit eight old age homes in Sol Plaatje Local Municipality. These include the Galeshewe Association for the Care of the Aged (GAASCA), as well as old age homes at Belgravia, Seocwareng, Minerva Gardens, ACCV Ons Huis, Resthaven, Stillerwee and Acacia Park. Other sites to be prioritised include West End Hospital, St Theresa Hospice and the new Mental Health Hospital.”

Majaha added that the department will open primary vaccination sites across the Province this week.

“Over the coming days and weeks, the department will be opening a minimum of 30 primary vaccination sites across the Province, especially when new supplies of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine arrive in South Africa.

“Our preferred plan is to then move forward with people in other congregate settings and later progress to people under 60 living with comorbidities, as well as essential workers.”

He said that more than 60% of health care workers in the Province have already been vaccinated.

“With regards to phase 1 of the vaccination programme, 9,219 health care workers out of a target of 14,000 people have been vaccinated by May 15, 2021. This translates to 65% of health care workers vaccinated.”

Majaha urged people to register in order to receive the vaccine.

“Before anyone can be vaccinated, they must register online using the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) self-registration system. Our staff are available to help anyone who has difficulty registering on this system.”

Majaha said there are five ways to register on EVDS:

1. online at www.vaccine.enroll.gov.za

2. using the WhatsApp line 060 012 3456

3. by SMS - dial *134*832#

4. call the Covid-19 hotline 0800 029 999

5. use the new QR - simply scan and follow the prompts. The QR code will be published widely and can be found on the SAcoronavirus website (https://sacoronavirus.co.za) or the National Department of Health website (http://www.health.gov.za).

“All services are zero-rated, which means people do not need airtime, data or money to use the services.”