Metro on pop-up vaccination sites: ‘We don’t have the staff’
“Vaccinations cannot be done by a nurse, travelling to homes or sites with a bag, with limited vaccines, it’s a process that should be registered. We cannot simply just pop-up as we do not have staff.”
The Tshwane metro said it did not have enough manpower to implement door-to-door vaccinations to bolster vaccination rates in the city.
“Vaccinations can’t be done by a nurse going to homes or sites with a bag, with limited vaccines,” said Tshwane health MMC Sakkie du Plooy.
“It’s a process that should be registered. We cannot simply just pop-up as we do not have the staff.”
Du Plooy’s remarks came as the metro was struggling to meet vaccination targets set out by the Gauteng health department.
The metro was, however, running door-to-door campaigns using community workers to educate residents about Covid-19 vaccinations.
“But we found it impossible to jab willing residents through this platform.”
He said innovative strategies such as pop-up sites at taxi ranks, workplaces and other places where people congregated were effective in bolstering vaccination rates.
A lack of staff, unfortunately, undermined their ability to increase vaccination sites.
“We are also looking at other strategies, such as incentives and partnerships with the public and the private sector to increase vaccination rates.”
He was also unsure whether door-to-door vaccinations would bolster Tshwane’s vaccination rate because of vaccine hesitancy.
“There are still a significant amount of people who are not vaccinating. Even if we reach them or go to their homes, they will say they are not interested.”
Du Plooy said the metro was pushing harder each week to convince more residents to get the jab.
He said the metro needed to vaccinate more people ahead of the anticipated fourth wave, “so the period will be short and less intensive on our health systems”.
According to Gauteng’s health department spokesperson Kwara Kekana, more than fourmillion vaccinations have been administered in the province.
“The province has 1.4-million people who are now fully vaccinated.”
Kekana said the province wanted to ramp up vaccinations to beat the anticipated fourth wave.
“The province continues to ramp up vaccinations through ongoing partnerships, pop-up sites and weekend operating vaccinations.”
She encouraged eligible residents to get vaccinated.
Those who had received their first jabs, as part of the two jab programme, were reminded to visit their sites for their second jabs.
“As many people as possible must get vaccinated so that we can enjoy the festive season with family and friends,” said Kekana.
“When 70% or more of the adult population is vaccinated, we can lessen the impact of the fourth wave and avoid stricter restrictions.”
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