Update on Witrand Hospital’s Covid-19 vaccination process

Since the official opening of Witrand Hospital’s Covid-19 vaccination site on 17 May this year, the site has done exceptionally well with positive accolades on the high level of professionalism and good service.

Witrand became the first psychiatric hospital in the province to be licensed as a vaccination site, according to Moipone Elizabeth Mpolokeng, the acting chief executive officer of the hospital.

So far, a total of 30,206 Pfizer vaccinations have been administered to healthcare workers and members of the public who have successfully registered on the EVDS system.

Those who have received the first dose of the vaccine are, therefore, reminded to honour their appointments on the scheduled dates for the second dose of the vaccine.

Dr Simon Chihanga, a medical doctor at Witrand, appeals to community members who are using oxygen at home to bring their tanks with them when they come to the vaccination site. Patients on acute treatment should wait until they have fully recovered before being vaccinated. “Those who are ill and show signs of Covid-19 should seek medical treatment first, including being tested before coming to the vaccination site,” he says.

Dr Chihanga encourages pregnant women to vaccinate after the first three months of pregnancy and says women who breastfeed can also vaccinate since there is no evidence of harm to babies.