Vaccine site gain thumbs up

The Ekurhuleni East Region Covid-19 vaccine storage site is ready to receive Covid-19 vaccines.

The MMC for community services in the City of Ekurhuleni, Nomadlozi Nkosi, joined by MEC for sport, recreation, arts and culture in Gauteng Mbali Hlophe, in visiting Nokuthula Ngwenya Clinic on April 1 to inspect the facility.

Ekurhuleni will be receiving Pfizer vaccines. The centre was selected as one of the Covid-19 testing stations early last year. Ekurhuleni health district pharmacist Deon van Vuur stated they have 24-hour security at the facility to ensure the safety of the vaccines on arrival.

“In the fridge department, we have two cold rooms. Then we have three freezers where we can store at minus 20 degrees. We are preparing for the Pfizer vaccine, which will be stored for 14 days before distribution.

“One freezer is for the polio vaccine and the other two are dedicated for the Covid-19 vaccines,” explained van Vuur. Onsite temperatures and during transportation will be monitored. “I am happy with the preparations and planning so far. This is after having observed that the facility is ready and it complies with the standard required for the vaccines to be stored,” Nkosi stated.

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“I hope by the time the vaccines get here there are no storage challenges.” Hlophe said since storage temperature is critical she is happy to see the East region has it under control. “Also, security is vital. We have seen how in other places vaccines were stolen. I think it is important for us to anticipate that we might have such challenges and better prepare for them now. “We need to have systems and guidelines in place. Not everyone should have access to the vaccines, but obviously, we are going to be looking at reports as well and doing site inspections,” she said.

Collection and delivery will take place every two weeks to cover the whole district.

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,  or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za , and Lebogang Sekgwama lebogangs@caxton.co.za.