COVID-19: Gauteng To Increase Vaccination Sites In Bid To Ramp Up Vaccination Drive

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Gauteng premier David Makhura. PHOTO: GPG/Twitter

THE Gauteng health department said it would add new vaccination sites to ensure that more people who are 60 years and older get vaccinated.

This, after the department announced last week that it was hoping to vaccinate more than 1.3 million people over the age of 60 during the second phase of the national Covid-19 vaccination plan. 

The department said on Monday that the move increases the public vaccination sites in Gauteng from 28 to 63 sites spread across the five regions of the province:

  • Joburg (18),
  • Tshwane (14),
  • Ekurhuleni (14),
  • West Rand (10) and;  
  • Sedibeng (7).

As of Saturday, 22 May 2021, 40 028 people were vaccinated at Old Age Homes and health facilities across the province.

To date, 164 191 people, including healthcare workers have been vaccinated, with 390 945 registered on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) platform.

Gauteng province has 218 old age homes it was targeting for vaccinations.

These house a population of close to 27,000 people. 

“Phase 1B of the vaccination programme is focusing on healthcare workers, traditional practitioners and funeral parlour employees, while Phase 2 of the programme is prioritising persons who are 60 years and older, as they are more vulnerable to serious illness, hospitalisation and death, in the event they contract COVID-19,” said the department’s spokesperson Kwara Kekana in a statement.

“All residents are urged to help reduce the spread of the pandemic by getting the COVID-19 vaccine when their turn comes. However, the public is urged not to visit the vaccination sites until they have received an SMS advising them to do so.”

The department said getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is one of the best ways to protect lives.

“It should be noted that people can still contract the Coronavirus even if they have been vaccinated for COVID-19,” said Kekana.

“The vaccine boosts the immune system to prevent severe illness, hospitalisation, and death in the event one contracts the disease.

By vaccinating and adhering to the non-pharmaceutical interventions we can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep the economy open.”

For assistance with registration, contact the Gauteng Hotline on 0800 GAUTENG (4288364) or 0800 22 88 27.

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