Next phase of vaccination has started at Witrand Hospital
On Monday, (17 May) the J.B. Marks municipality moved to Phase 1B (private and public health workers who have not been vaccinated) and Phase 2 (starting with people aged 60 and older) of its Covid-19 vaccine rollout.
On Monday, (17 May) the J.B. Marks municipality moved to Phase 1B (private and public health workers who have not been vaccinated) and Phase 2 (starting with people aged 60 and older) of its Covid-19 vaccine rollout. The vaccines are being administered in Ward 2, Block E at Witrand Hospital. It is important to note that people 60 years and older need to register first.
The vaccine registration is done on the electronic vaccination data system (EVDS). People who have registered successfully will receive an SMS to confirm the date and time of vaccination.
The media spokesperson for Witrand Hospital, Koketso Diloane, has confirmed that residents in J.B. Marks can only be vaccinated at Witrand Hospital. He is appealing to family members and next of kin to assist in ensuring that the elderly are registered on the EVDS. “You need a data device to register. You only need your identity number, full address, and cell phone number, which you need to take to the vaccination site for further verification”, Diloane stated.
He says a team will be on-site to assist with registering on the EVDS site. This will only be to register and the person would then have to go back after they have received an SMS confirmation for the vaccine.
The first senior citizen to be vaccinated in J.B. Marks municipality was Willy Williams from Promosa. He was quite cheerful and proud to be the first person to receive a vaccination shot. “After seeing the advert for registration on TV, I asked one of my grandchildren to assist me in the registration process. I received confirmation within a week. Today, I woke up as early as I could to make sure that I was one of the first people to receive the vaccination and represent the elderly of our community. I am happy,” said Williams after his vaccination.
Diloane has also confirmed that visitation and leave of absence for patients at Witrand have been suspended from Monday, 17 May until further notice.
“The decision to suspend both the visits and leave of absence is as a result of taking extra precautionary measures in making sure that cross-infection is reduced between vulnerable in-patients, staff members, family members and next of kin who might potentially visit the hospital while guarding against the looming third wave of Covid-19. Outpatient appointments and different clinics at (O.P.D) will continue,” said Moipone Mpolokeng, Witrand’s acting CEO.
