KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala, has announced the province’s strategy to roll out the Covid-19 vaccine to all citizens. In a briefing, Premier Zikalala said the ‘plan focuses on the management, distribution and dispensing of the vaccine.’

“Key to the success of this plan is co-operation between the public and private sector, as well as non-governmental, community, and faith-based organizations.

The province has established a Vaccine Co-ordinating Committee, which includes private hospitals, traditional leaders, eThekwini Municipality, Health Systems Trust, Organised Labour, NGOs (PEPFAR partners), the academic sector, National Health Laboratory Service, civil society and the South African Military Health Services, among others.

Across the province, all our districts have finalised vaccination distribution plans.

The province will follow the phased approach to vaccination as follows:

Phase 1 divided into two categories:

A) That is, health department staff in direct contact with patients (health care workers and support staff)

B) Staff not in direct contact with patients (administrative and other staff)

The provincial first beneficiaries are targeted as follows:

• Public sector health care staff: 67644

• Medical doctors, dentists, pharmacists, Emergency Medical Services: 9292

• Interns: 390 •

Nurses: 34 279 •

Non-OSD staff: 20 417 •

Allied health professional: 2639 •

Engineers/artisans: 366 •

Staff providing social services: 256

• Privately contracted staff working in public sector: 14625

• Traditional healers: 5939

• Military health care staff: 350

• NGO sector staff: 6699 • Environmental Health Practitioners: 360

 Identification and prioritisation of targeted Health Care Workers

A total of 163 256 health personnel from various sectors in KwaZulu-Natal are eligible to receive vaccination during the first phase, as announced by the President. These include 81000 Health Care Workers in the public sector and 49000 in the private sector. “We have developed a pre-registration system for Health Workers per facility.”

Vaccination sites state of readiness:

The province currently has 3 601 patients admitted in both private (n=2 429, 67%) and public (n=1 172, 33%) hospitals as at 31 January 2021. Of those admitted, 483 patients (13%) required intensive care services. 

Among those who required intensive care, 44% (n=211) were being ventilated. Staff in direct contact with patients will be prioritised.

To date, the province has identified 91 Vaccination sites, which will include all the public hospitals and Community Health Centres (CHCs). These hospitals and CHCs will be responsible for the clinics, and other sites that are part of the value chain in their catchment areas.

Monitoring and evaluation

Every vaccinated person will be observed for a while before being discharged after being vaccinated.

KZN COVID-19 TRENDS ANALYSIS:

“When we move over to the status quo for COVID – 19 in KwaZulu-Natal, our Province has observed a decline in the number of new cases weekly.

KwaZulu-Natal is currently the second-highest countrywide in terms of laboratory-confirmed cases. The overall percentage change in the number of new cases between week 3 (17 – 23 January 2021) & week 4 (24-30 January 2021) amounted to a decline of 51%. The actual number of cases was 22 608 (week 3), and 11 099 (week 4) respectively.

“Over the past week, the highest number of cases received was 2 079, which was on Tuesday, 26 January 2020. The average number of cases recorded daily was 1 777 cases/day.

“Due to its population size, among other factors, eThekwini District has continued to record the highest number of new cases daily.

However, the proportion of daily cases has declined to below 40%.

“The province currently has 3 601 patients admitted in both private (n=2 429, 67%) and public (n=1 172, 33%) hospitals as at 31 January 2021. Of those admitted, 483 patients (13%) required intensive care services.  Among those who required intensive care, 44% (n=211) were being ventilated.