Pensioner struggles for second jab
Records show Ms Fourie had received her second dose of Pfizer, however, this is impossible as she was admitted to hospital for Covid-19 during the time she was meant to return for her second vaccination.
For Ms Jacomina “Jaci” Fourie (65) was in doubt to take the vaccine.
She was still in two minds but on her doctor’s advice to take the vaccine because of her age and underlying health conditions, Mr Fourie felt she had no choice.
Ms Fourie’s first Pfizer vaccine was administered at the Evander Hospital on July 2.
She was due back for her second dose on August 16, however, a couple of weeks after her first vaccine Ms Fourie contracted the Covid-19 virus and was admitted to Mediclinic Highveld on August 15.
She was discharged from the hospital on August 20.
Her doctor advised her, during her follow-up, to rather go 30 days after being discarded from hospital for her second vaccine.
In the time that Ms Fourie was in the hospital she had received an SMS stating that she had received her second Pfizer vaccine and that she had a new reference number.
Ms Fourie contacted the matron at Evander Hospital on September 21.
“I was first reprimanded by the matron for not returning on the due date. I had to explain myself that I could not do so as I was in the hospital with Covid-19 at the time I was to return for my second vaccine,” said Ms Fourie.
Ms Fourie said the response from the matron was that she would take the matter further.
Ms Fourie has also since left Secunda and is now residing in Barberton.
“I had made an appointment at a Clicks in Barberton for my second dose of the vaccine.
“The nurse there said she could not administer the second vaccine because the system shows I had already received it.”
Ms Fourie explained to the nurse that this was impossible because she was in hospital at the time she was due for her second vaccine.
She also explained that she received an SMS stating that she had received her vaccine although this was impossible because of her being in hospital at that time.
Ms Fourie said she was turned away and told that they could not help her and for her to report it to the hotline and rectify it.
“I don’t understand why I must rectify this when it is their system. A government system.
“I really need to have my second vaccine, instead I am being shown away,” said Ms Fourie.
Ms Fourie returned home and asked her sister-in-law with whom Ms Fourie is currently residing, to help her get through to the Covid-19 hotline.
“We tried the Covid-19 vaccine hotline but to no avail. We even wrote to them on their website but to date, we have not heard from them,” said Ms Fourie.
Ms Fourie once again phoned Evander Hospital to rectify their mistake.
“I was referred to the vaccine coordinator. He apologised profusely and explained that something went wrong on the system, but that it is okay and that it is something that can be rectified,” said Ms Fourie.
He told her to return to Evander Hospital and revaccinate.
“I am 65, I have no transport and yet it is now expected of me to make a six-hour journey back to Evander from Barberton.
“I explained to him that I do not understand why I have to make this journey back because of their mess-ups,” said Ms Fourie.
She said the doctor once again apologised and said that it is fine, she can wait 90 days, then go for a second one.
“He told me the system “reboots” and the names of everybody that has been vaccinated gets wiped off and that I can begin the processes all over again.
“I told him he must be kidding me and that these are stats that are meant to stay on the system. Whether he meant that these stats are saved, I do not know.”
Ms Fourie explained that she is not the only person who had experienced this problem. Her sister-in-law, who went for her first vaccine the same day Ms Fourie went for hers, was also told she had already received her second vaccine when she was due back.
“It is frustrating. I feel horrible about this whole thing. It was impossible for me to go on August 16 because I was hospital. At first, I thought the SMS was a mistake and meant for someone else. If I really thought that there was going to be any problems I would not have ignored it.
“I was very sick and when I got the SMS it was only my second day in hospital. It was only afterwards that it dawned on me that I should have shown my doctor the SMS,” said Ms Fourie.
Ms Fourie said this also makes her question the country’s stats and the Covid-19 system.
“No one is getting back to me, neither the hotline nor the Evander Hospital,” said Ms Fourie.
At the time of going to press, Ms Fourie let the Ridge Times know that she had received the following response from Evander Hospital: “Morning, I have spoken to the manager for vaccination, she requested your contact details, and will phone you, thanks.”
Ms Fourie ended by saying: “I am a high-risk patient being denied a second vaccine. This is an infringement of my basic human rights to receive the protection I need.”
Ms Madala Ndhlovu, CEO of the Evander Hospital, has not yet responded to questions sent to her by email or a WhatsApp message at time of going to press.
The Ridge Times has also brought this matter to the attention of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases NICD), but was asked to direct our questions to Ms Sinenhlanhla Jimoh, senior communications manager.
Response was yet to be received at the time of going to press.
