Programme to assist the elderly register for Covid-19 vaccination
The mission is to get as many over 60s as possible to sign up for the lifesaving jab
PEOPLE across the country are pulling out all the stops to help pensioners register for the Covid-19 vaccine.
Pension payout points, where thousands queue for their monthly grant, are among the places being targeted.
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Volunteers from all walks of life are descending on post offices, Boxer Superstores and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pay points to ensure no pensioner is left behind.
The mission is to get as many over 60s as possible to sign up for the lifesaving jab under the second phase of the country’s vaccination roll-out programme currently underway.
This week, the Department of Health Director General, Dr Sandile Buthelezi expressed his disappointment that the country was not even close to reaching 50% of the 5.5 million people who are over 60.
However, one woman who is determined to change this is Jane Simmonds who works as Research Manager at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).
Speaking to SA News, Simmonds said she realised that grant queues are very important in older people’s lives.
‘Because where do you reach old people? They’re not at work, not at old age homes, not on transport or at school.’
‘They’re not even going to church much these days because of Covid-19.
‘But they’re living at home and in their communities.’
And when she saw the level of vaccine registration among the elderly was low, Simmonds knew she needed to do something.
She has since rallied the likes of Boxer, South African Post Office (SAPO) and SASSA, where thousands of senior citizens gather to collect their old age pension.
The South African Council of Churches and the United Nations’ Children’s Emergency Fund have also come on board and are sending volunteers to offer a helping hand by assisting pensioners with registration.
‘We find that a lot of old people do have phones, but they can’t see the screen because of their eyes, or have difficulty reading numbers to type on the phone.
‘The group will help the elderly dial the USSD number (*134*832#) – which is free – and fill in their personal details or use their own cell phones to register for the elderly people who do not have mobile phones.
‘The next step is getting the needles in people’s arms as it allows them to be safe from Covid-19,’ she said, adding that the SAMRC is aiming to reach at least one million senior citizens.
Meanwhile, Boxer has started distributing 250 000 flyers which will be handed out in their stores to promote the vaccination roll-out.
According to Simmonds, about 100 000 pensioners collected their money from Boxer in April this year.
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