With the improvement in vaccine supply, the provincial department of health can ramp-up the roll-out of vaccines to all corners of the province
In doing so the Western Cape Department of Health is also maintaining equity, fairness and accessibility of vaccines for all citizens, it says. Having received 191 880 Pfizer vaccines on 25 June as part of Phase 2 (to be used between 28 June and 9 July) and 26 400 Johnson & Johnson vaccines for educators (on 22 June), the province’s combined total vaccine allocation since 17 May is 513 120.
By Friday 2 July the department had used 72% of its allocation, vaccinating 369 501 people, including educators.
Through the Sisonke programme we also vaccinated 91 732 health-care workers bringing the total people vaccinated in the province to 461 233.
Ensuring improved access to vaccines
Access to the means to register has also contributed to a low uptake in several areas. It is important to ensure equity in both the distribution of vaccines to the districts as well as the accessibility of vaccines. It is important that both insured and uninsured citizens have a fair opportunity to gain access to vaccination.
By Friday 2 July 49% of residents over the age of 50 living in the southern substructure and 51% of residents over the age of 50 residing in the western substructure had registered.
For this reason the department had started implementing the following in several areas to remove barriers to access to register:. Vaccination sites have made provision for an increased number of walk-ins. On-site registration. Transport to vaccination sites in some areas. Door-to-door registration drives
These arrangements may differ from sites and will be communicated locally.
With the additional mechanisms put in place to enhance registration and vaccine uptake, the department encourage citizens to make use of this support so as many people as possible are reached.
As from Monday 5 July, the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) system will allocate available appointment slots in the following order of priority:
Priority 1 – people 60 years and older requiring their 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine;
Priority 2 – people 60 years and older who are eligible for their 2nd dose of Pfizer vaccine (approximately 42 days after their first dose);
Priority 3 – people aged 50-59 years requiring their first dose of Pfizer vaccine.
Vaccination sites in the Atlantis Area:
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Saxonsea Community Centre
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Mamre CDC
As usual, a limited numbers of walk-ins will be accommodated at the vaccination sites.
The number of walk-ins depend on the available capacity and vaccine doses available at sites.
Keeping safe during the Third Wave
The country is currently in the midst of an established Third Wave of Covid-19 infections. There are rapid increases in the active cases in the southern and western substructure continue and now exceed the high point of the first wave. Hospital admissions are rising rapidly and deaths are rising quite rapidly now.
The best way to protect each other is to avoid social gatherings outside our immediate home environment and protect our “bubble”.
This is your “safe space”.
So let’s keep this behaviour going for the next few weeks, to break the chain of transmission and flatten the curve.
Avoid a transmission chain by protecting your air space. . Avoid all large gatherings; . Avoid any social gatherings where possible; . If you need to go out to do activities such as shopping, always wear your mask and keep it short;. If you must meet, keep it outdoors, small and short; . When indoors, dress warmly and ensure the windows are open so your space is well ventilated with fresh air;. If sick, stay home.
