“Glitches in Covid-19 vaccine roll-out at private facilities ironed out”
This as some who were scheduled to get their Covid-19 vaccine jabs at the pharmaceutical company vaccine roll-out faced the centres running out of stock last week.
After initial teething problems in the first few days of a pharmaceutical company’s Covid-19 vaccine roll-out, there was hope that matters would improve.
This as some people who were scheduled to get their Covid-19 vaccine jabs at Clicks faced the stores running out of stock last week.
One of those who missed the jab appointment was James Short, a Pretoria east resident who was scheduled to receive his Covid-19 vaccine last week Friday at a local Clicks store. Short said he was told the store had run out of stock and the same happened on Monday.
Having started the roll-out last week Friday, Clicks managing executive Vikash Singh said during the first few days of the vaccine roll-out they had small amounts of vaccines sent to the sites.
Singh said the pharmaceutical company also vaccinated staff and customers over the age of 60 registered on the government’s electronic vaccination data system (EVDS) online portal but had not yet received their voucher indicating the jab date.
“This was to allow time to get everyone, including customers, to familiarise themselves with the system and process,” he said.
However, this led to some people who had scheduled appointments last week, not receiving the jabs.
“The EVDS system is now fully operational at all of our initial sites and vaccinations going forward will be handled using the SMS vouchers. This will ensure the correct allocation of vaccine stock to stores, based on confirmed appointments,” he said.
“Should a Clicks vaccination site run out of stock, scheduled customers will be informed when additional stock arrives, so that they can be assisted first. ”
Singh said that the stores anticipated receiving additional stock this week, and more staff as a measure to ensure the roll-out to ran smoothly.
This means that the company will no longer vaccinate registered people but those who have received SMS for appointment dates.
There was a disappointing end for the elderly who on Wednesday, flocked to the Menlyn retail park outlet to receive jabs after hearing the store was vaccinating those registered.
One of the people who was in the line, Mariet Botha, frustrated with not getting a date over a month after registration, said she went to the store hoping to get a jab.
“My husband and I have been waiting for over a month, now for the vaccine appointment date. We only have the registration confirmation from the state’s registration system.
“We arrived at the store early, but because we did not have an appointment date, we were turned away along with several other people which was disappointing.”
Department of health spokesperson Popo Maja said the department had no influence on stock allocation to stores.
“Clicks places an order with us nationally which we deliver to their warehouses and they do the distribution to each pharmacy. We do not influence stock allocation to a specific Clicks store.”
Regarding the period one has to wait to get an appointment date, in the health department Covid-19 vaccine registration there was no waiting time for a vaccine appointment stipulated.
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