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Tshwane launches on-site Covid-19 vaccine registration for the elderly

Gauteng health has started onsite registration at Tshwane region old age homes for Covid-19 vaccination.

May 9, 2021
Sinesipho Schrieber 2 minutes read

As the provincial department plans to start the vaccination programme for the elderly this month, it has embarked on onsite registration at Tshwane old age homes and community clinics.

While most of the Covid-19 vaccine registration has been facilitated online, Gauteng health spokesperson Kwara Kekana said they started onsite registration to have more people registered for the vaccine including those who do not have access to phones or internet services.

Kekana said the onsite programme was started last month, to ensure no one would be left out in the vaccination programme due to lack of resources or economic status.

“No South African eligible for a vaccination will be left out, maximum coverage for vaccination is important to reach herd immunity.”

Kekana said onsite registration was also important as people’s phones get lost, broken or stolen.

“Some citizens might have gadgets but cannot utilise them for other purposes than that of receiving or making calls.”

While the onsite registration started at old age homes, Kekana said the programme also included non-governmental mental health institutions.

“The registration is also in phases, the district started at old age homes both public and private. The NGOs for mental health institutions are also included. ”

Kekana said the target for Covid-19 vaccination phase 2 for those aged 60 years and above was 316 487.

Although Kekana could not give the exact figure for phase 2 vaccine roll-out sites in the region, she said the department would add more sites than the 13 sites identified for phase 1.

Kekana said by Tuesday, 4 May, about 5 768 health workers still needed to be vaccinated in Tshwane after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine roll-out halt.

Silversig, Agape Home, Methodist Haven, Huis Herfsblaar, Huis Eljorie, Deutsches Altersheim, Nazareth house, Princess Christian old age homes amongst the list of elderly homes for the vaccine registration.

Last week, about 325 250 doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine arrived at OR Tambo airport. The health department expected the roll-out to the vulnerable group of people over 60 years of age to start on 17 May. According to them, about 16.6-million people were targeted to receive the vaccine.

To register log onto https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za if you encounter problems during the registration process, contact the Covid-19 hotline at 0800-029-999 .

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At Caxton, every story is written by humans. We use AI only to perform quality checks - never to generate the news. Happy reading!
May 9, 2021
Sinesipho Schrieber 2 minutes read

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