Getting vaccinated is easy, visit the Tara – The H. Moross Centre

Tara – The H. Moross Centre has recently launched its vaccination site outreach programme.

The programme, established to service the Sandton and surrounding communities at large, is available on weekdays from 08:00 to 15:00 to eligible groups.

The process of getting vaccinated can be intimidating for some but is it rather simple and hassle-free. The Sandton Chronicle visited the Tara vaccination site, which took less than 45 minutes from start to finish.

Step 1: Let’s get started

• Hand over your identity document (ID, passport or drivers’ license) at reception. They will take down your details and ask you to choose between the Johnson & Johnson (one injection only) or Pfizer (two injections six weeks apart).

Step 2: Move to the registration room

• Here they will cross-reference your details with the government site. If you have not yet registered, the team will register you and it will take just 10 minutes to receive your number.

Step 3: A visit with a friendly nurse

• A staff member will take down a short medical history, for example, have you ever reacted to an IV or drip, have you had an allergic reaction to bee stings.
• The friendly staff walk you through how the vaccine works.
• You are told what kind of reactions your body might experience such as headache, fever or chills, tiredness, nausea, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes under your armpit or a sore arm. Different types of vaccines work in different ways, but they all prepare your body to fight the coronavirus.
• Throughout this process they will ask for your consent constantly and confirm which vaccine you chose. Each vial and injection is marked with a coloured sticker with a batch number to ensure accuracy. If you choose Pfizer, the nurse will give you your next vaccination date (usually 45 days after your first one). You can choose which arm you are injected in. The site is cleaned and it’s a quick prick.

Step 4: Recovery room

• They monitor you for 15 minutes in the recovery room to ensure that you are recovering well after the vaccination.

And, you are done!

[Side note box] ALLERGY IS RARE: You may get a mild reaction like a rash or itchy skin. Serious allergy is extremely rare, and if it does happen, it would almost certainly happen start right after the injection while you were being observed by the nurses.

Address: 50 Saxon Road, Sandhurst.

Details: Tara – The H. Moross Centre 011 535 3000; 011 535 3156.