Zwartkops vaccination drive-thru reaches 25k milestone

The 25 000th vaccine was administered at the Zwartkops Drive-Thru site in Centurion on Sunday morning, October 3.

Volunteers and sponsors were honoured by Premier David Makhura, Health MEC, Dr Nomathemba Mokgheti and Miss SA finalist/volunteer Cheneil Hartzenberg, who was on-site to receive her second Pfizer jab.

“This is a milestone and I salute all the volunteers. I salute every one of you. Thank you for serving our country,” Makhura said.

He said Zwartkops was a popular and busy site and the feedback had been excellent.

Social activist Yusuf Abramjee, who is overseeing the drive-thru, said: “When our call for volunteers went out, we were overwhelmed by the support of doctors, professors, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and members of the community offering to do admin and other tasks.

“Sometimes the queues went on for two or three kilometres but people sat patiently in their vehicles, and did not mind the wait. At times, we had up to 12 vaccination bays running. People came by bicycle, by motorcycle, by bakkie, minibuses and even buses came by,” he said.

Abramjee said having 25 000 people vaccinated possibly saved 25 000 from high care wards and ICUs.

“Yes, as a nation, we have a long way to go but if we all work together, we will reach herd immunity.”

All volunteers and sponsors received special awards signed by the Premier, MEC and site management.

The vaccination site is on the R55 road between Laudium and Sunderland Ridge.

Since its launch back in August, the site quickly became one of the metro’s busiest, assisting the metro to drive up vaccination numbers.

It is entirely staffed by volunteers and is one of the Tshwane metro’s 43 vaccination sites.

“The site will also be open on Saturdays between 9:00 and 15:00 until early December,” Abramjee said

Pop-up sites will also be set up.

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