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Covid-19

18 June 2021 Media Release: Environmental Health Practitioners continue to sensitise Garden Routers of a rise in COVID-19 infections

Media Release: Environmental Health Practitioners continue to sensitise Garden Routers of a rise in COVID-19 infections

For immediate release
18 June 2021

With the sharp spike in Covid-19 positive cases over the past few weeks, Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) of Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) play a pivotal role in ensuring that infection rates decrease. To address the issue, the various EHPs of GRDM implemented strict measures to ensure that the health of the residents in the area is protected.

Environmental Health Practitioners together with Officers from the South African Police Service during an operation in the Knysna and surrounding areas.

According to recent reports received from the Executive Manager for Community Services at GRDM, Clive Africa, the district’s respective Municipal Health sections implemented various measures in their attempt to stabilise the Covid-19 cases. Among these measures are the continuous discussions with local municipalities and other stakeholders to intensify activities in the district. Key performance areas relevant to the pandemic were therefore the focal point. The focus now is primarily on house visits, contact tracing of newly reported cases, health and hygiene awareness interventions at identified premises, and health surveillance of premises and collaborative blitzes at spaza shops.

During the last few weeks, more awareness sessions were conducted in residential areas of the district in collaboration with health care workers and officials from the Provincial Hospitals. It was established that some of the churches were not Covid-19 compliant, more specifically in the Mossel Bay area – where no social distancing, no wearing of masks and too many people were allowed to attend services at the same time, were found. An investigation and awareness campaigns followed, after which the following were implemented.

  • awareness sessions with all church denominations in the area;
  • awareness sessions at restaurants to make use of outdoor tables as much as possible;
  • media campaign (print and electronic), with the help from the local municipality; and
  • compliance inspections with the support from the South African Police Service.

EHPs at GRDM furthermore continue to organise joint operations with the South African Police Service for their visits to spaza shops and taverns, as well as Tshisanyamas. These are conducted after-hours and are part of their ongoing interventions to curb the rise of infections in the district. Furthermore, continuous compliance visits to funeral parlours are also taking place.

More Covid-19 measures in place after the President’s announcement on 15 June 2021, include:

  • Curfew from 22:00 to 4:00 – bars and restaurants need to close by 21:00;
  • Alcohols sales from Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 18:00;
  • Funerals restricted to 50 persons per service with a maximum of 2 hours per funeral, with no after-funeral activities;
  • All gatherings restricted to 50 persons (indoor) and 100 persons (outdoor); and
  • The wearing of masks is mandatory – any person without a face cover in a public space will be committing an offence.

Report non-compliance by businesses or related incidents to the GRDM Disaster Management Centre 24/7 at telephone number 044-805 5071.

ENDS

14 June 2021 Media Release: Garden Route COVID Update

Media Release: Garden Route COVID Update

For Immediate Release
14 June 2021

The Garden Route District had a 110% increase in new cases over the last 7 days compared to 7-14 days ago.

All sub-districts had large increases except for Oudtshoorn with a minimal increase and Kannaland which remained unchanged.

The new cases are widespread with some household clusters. It is important that we all play our part in curbing the spread. All situations are being actively monitored.

Stats as of 14 June 2021.

Sub-district TOTAL Active Recovered Deaths
Bitou 2868 43 2 724 101
George 12513 279 11 779 455
Hessequa 2037 40 1 889 108
Kannaland 917 8 863 46
Knysna 4948 55 4 735 158
Mossel Bay 7900 282 7 406 212
Oudtshoorn 4239 69 3 872 298
Sub-total 35422 776 33 268 1 378

Vaccine roll-out

A total of 20 653 vaccines have been administered since the start of the vaccine program. This includes healthcare workers, old age homes and public sites.

The Department received a lesser allocation of vaccines this week from the national government, which has impacted the number of people we will be able to vaccinate this week.

We are however still planning to open more sites after which more appointment slots will become available, and hence more system generated SMSs will be sent to assign registered people to specific sites with available appointment slots.

We have noted a lot of queries regarding the appointment system. Appointments for vaccinations are automatically scheduled by the National Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS). The system checks in a sequential manner who registered first in a specific area, and assigns appointments to them based on available slots at sites close to that area. If you would like to confirm your registration or make changes to your details please visit http://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za. You can also access this link on our website, www.westerncape.gov.za.

What to bring with you when going for your vaccination

Please remember to bring along your ID, passport, or asylum document when coming for your vaccine.

If you belong to a medical aid, please take your medical aid card or details with you.

At the vaccination site, there will be signage directing you where to go. You will be screened according to COVID-19 protocol.

Once inside, your details will be confirmed. The health workers at the vaccination station will ask you for consent, will explain what they are going to do, and will ask if you have any allergies or medical conditions. This is an important part of the process.

After your vaccination, you will be asked to wait in the observation room for 15 to 30 minutes so that staff can make sure you do not experience any severe allergic reactions. If you received the first jab of a 2-dose vaccine, you will get a follow-up appointment via SMS. You will also receive a proof of vaccination card.

The following sites in the Garden Route District will administer vaccinations on the following days for week 14 – 18 June.

Mossel Bay D’Almeida Community Hall PUBLIC 14, 15
Mossel Bay Alma CDC PUBLIC 14, 15, 17 ,18
Mossel Bay Wolwedans Community Hall PUBLIC 18
Mossel Bay Mossel Bay Town Hall PUBLIC 15
Bitou Plettenberg Bay Town Clinic PUBLIC 17
Bitou Kwanokuthula CDC PUBLIC 18
George Harry Comay TB Hospital PUBLIC 14,15, 17, 18
George Thembalethu CDC PUBLIC 14,15, 17, 18
George George Central Clinic PUBLIC 14,15, 17, 18
George Uniondale Hospital PUBLIC 15, 17, 18
George Pacaltsdorp Clinic PUBLIC 17,18
Hessequa Riversdale Civic Centre PUBLIC 15, 17 ,18
Hessequa Witsand de Duine Hall PUBLIC 15,
Hessequa Heidelberg Duivenhoks Hall PUBLIC 15, 18
Hessequa Albertinia Theronsville Hall PUBLIC 17,18
Hessequa Stilbaai Civic Centre PUBLIC 15, 17, 18
Hessequa Slangrivier Satellite Clinic PUBLIC 18
Kannaland Ladismith DRC Church Hall PUBLIC 15
Kannaland Calitzdorp DRC Church Hall PUBLIC 17
Knysna Knysna Town Hall PUBLIC 18
Knysna Sedgefield Clinic PUBLIC 17
Oudtshoorn Oudtshoorn Hospital PUBLIC 17, 18
Oudtshoorn Dysselsdorp Clinic PUBLIC 15
Oudtshoorn De Rust(Blommenek) Clinic PUBLIC 17

Please remember that we prioritise those who are registered and have received their appointment.  No active sites on the 16th which is a public holiday.

 

ENDS

 

Nadia Ferreira

Principal Communications Officer

Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts

Western Cape Government Health

Town Clinic,Plettenberg Bay

Tel: 044 813 1831

Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za

Website: www.westerncape.gov.za

 

25 May 2021 Media Release: Eighty-year old the first to get jab as part of Phase 2

Media Release: Eighty-year old the first to get jab as part of Phase 2

For Immediate Release
25 May 2021

Kitty Rossouw(80) was the first public person to be vaccinated, today 25 May 2021,  in the Garden Route district as part of Phase 2 of the vaccination drive.

“I’ve decided long ago to get the vaccination, and I am glad my chance has finally come. I want to visit my children and feel safe doing so”, said Kitty.

Katty can’t wait to see her children and grandchildren after being fully vaccinated.

“We have started with people in old age homes, and plan to visit all the old age homes in our district. We plan to start vaccinating the rest of those who are over 60 and who have registered, at our sub-district sites in June. This is all dependant on the number of vaccines we receive and when we do receive them. Those who have registered will then receive an SMS with a date, time, venue, and unique code. SMS messages will be sent out a few days in advance in order for clients to make the necessary arrangements. Please do not visit vaccination sites if you have not received your SMS to confirm your appointment”, said District Director Mr Zee Brickles.

Kitty is one of 81 980 persons over the age of 60 living in the Garden Route District. Registration on EVDS has been slow in some sub-districts.

The following percentage of persons over 60 have registered in the following sub-districts:

– Knysna sub-district: 56%
– Mossel Bay sub-district:  50 %
– Hessequa sub-district: 46%
– Bitou sub-district: 40%
– George sub-district: 33%
– Kannaland sub-district: 27%
– Oudtshhorn sub-district: 52%

We ask that you assist a family member, friend or neighbour to register so that they can receive the vaccine and be protected against severe illness from COVID-19.

To register, please visit www.westerncape.gov.za and click on the link, or Dial *134*832# and follow the prompts (FREE on all South African Networks), or WhatsApp the word REGISTER to 0600 123456.

Appointments for vaccinations for over 60’s

We expect most people (above 60) who have registered to start getting their SMS in 2 to 3 weeks. If you missed your appointment date, don’t worry. All unredeemed vaccination vouchers will remain open on the database. The system will then generate a second appointment date, venue and time. If you unfortunately miss this appointment, the system will generate a third invitation. Should you miss your third appointment, the system will close your registration and you will need to contact 0800 029 999. Those residents who have registered and still waiting for their second SMS, please do not worry. Public sites will soon open. We urge residents to take up their invitation to be vaccinated the first time they receive their invitation SMS.

We urge people to only come to a vaccination site if you have received the second SMS confirming your appointment and your unique code.

Caption: Katty can’t wait to see her children and grandchildren after being fully vaccinated.
Caption 2: Katty receives her vaccination from Rabanya Lebone as part of Phase 2 of the vaccine roll-out.

END

Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health
Town Clinic,Plettenberg Bay
Tel: 076 379 5423
Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za
Website: www.westerncape.gov.za

7 May 2021 Media Release: Private healthcare workers to register for COVID-19 vaccine

Media Release: Private healthcare workers to register for COVID-19 vaccine

For Immediate Release
6 May 2021

Phase 1 of the Sisonke Vaccination programme will conclude on 15 May 2021. All healthcare workers both private and public have the opportunity to get their vaccination. Remember to register on the EVDS system. https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za/#/

Not sure if you qualify? Please see the following categories below.

Beneficiaries: Nurses (all categories), Medical doctors (all categories and specialisations), Dentists, dental therapists and oral hygienists, Clinical associates, Community health workers / liaison and development officers employed by provincial Departments of Health, Environmental Health practitioners (working for municipalities and provincial Departments of Health), Pharmacists and Pharmacist Assistants (fully registered/post-basic /basic), Radiographers, Emergency Medical Practitioners, Allied health staff (physiotherapists/occupational therapists /psychologists /optometrists /speech therapists /audiologists /biokinetics /nutritionists /dieticians), Registered occupational health staff, Clinical and medical technologists at clinical laboratory services, Clinical and medical technologists at forensic medical laboratory services, Blood Transfusion Services laboratory technicians, Staff working in forensic mortuaries, Orthotists /prosthetists/podiatrists, Alternative medicine practitioners (homeopaths/osteopaths/chiropractors), Medical/dental /nursing /pharmacy students that are on the clinical training platform, Staff working at national and provincial health departments and district health offices, Officials employed by National Port Health Authorities, Health staff at Department of Correctional Services, South African Military Health Services (SAMHS), Cleaners/housekeeping staff at health establishments and care facilities, Security services at health establishments and care facilities, Administrative staff at health establishments and care facilities, Staff working in student health services at TVETs and HEIs, Funeral workers (formal funeral homes and volunteers from registered burial societies), Registered traditional healers.

Please take note of the sites, dates and contact person for vaccinations.

The contacts below are available on weekdays between 08:00 and 16:00.

Vaccination site and dates: OUDTSHOORN HOSPITAL: 5 May

Contact person: Oudtshoorn

Sanet van Meersbergen; (044) 803 2464

Contact person: Kannaland

Maryna September: (028) 551 1010/1667/1342

Vaccination site and dates: ALMA CDC(MOSSEL BAY) 6, 7, 11,12 May

Contact person: Hessequa

Ilze Charles: (028) 713 8640

Contact person: Mossel Bay

Lida Swart: (044) 601 1915

Vaccination site and dates: PLETT TOWN CLINIC 10, 11 May

Contact person: Knysna

Carmen Grobler: (044) 302 5201

Contact person: Bitou

Girlie Lubbe: (044) 501 5100

Vaccination site and dates: GEORGE HOSPITAL 10 May

Contact person: George

Bernicois Konig: (044) 803 2079

Private healthcare workers: If you have not yet, please request your appointment through your manager or one central person from a facility in order not to have multiple people engaging from the same facility. See above contact details for persons to contact.

On the day of vaccination, you need to bring along your ID, Proof that you are a healthcare worker and Sisonke Vaccination Voucher

END

Nadia Ferreira

Principal Communications Officer

Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts

Western Cape Government Health

5 May 2021 Media Release: Private healthcare workers to register for COVID-19 vaccine

Media Release: Private healthcare workers to register for COVID-19 vaccine

For Immediate Release
5 May 2021

Phase 1 of the Sisonke Vaccination programme will conclude on 15 May 2021. All healthcare workers both private and the public have the opportunity to get their vaccination. Remember to register on the EVDS system. https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za/#/

Not sure if you qualify?

Please see the following categories below.

Beneficiaries: Nurses (all categories), Medical doctors (all categories and specialisations), Dentists, dental therapists and oral hygienists, Clinical associates, Community health workers / liaison and development officers employed by provincial Departments of Health, Environmental Health practitioners (working for municipalities and provincial Departments of Health), Pharmacists and Pharmacist Assistants (fully registered/post-basic /basic), Radiographers, Emergency Medical Practitioners, Allied health staff (physiotherapists/occupational therapists /psychologists /optometrists /speech therapists /audiologists /biokinetics /nutritionists /dieticians), Registered occupational health staff, Clinical and medical technologists at clinical laboratory services, Clinical and medical technologists at forensic medical laboratory services, Blood Transfusion Services laboratory technicians, Staff working in forensic mortuaries, Orthotists /prosthetists/podiatrists, Alternative medicine practitioners (homeopaths/osteopaths/chiropractors), Medical/dental /nursing /pharmacy students that are on the clinical training platform, Staff working at national and provincial health departments and district health offices, Officials employed by National Port Health Authorities, Health staff at Department of Correctional Services, South African Military Health Services (SAMHS), Cleaners/housekeeping staff at health establishments and care facilities, Security services at health establishments and care facilities, Administrative staff at health establishments and care facilities, Staff working in student health services at TVETs and HEIs, Funeral workers (formal funeral homes and volunteers from registered burial societies), Registered traditional healers.

Please take note of the sites, dates and contact person for vaccinations.

The contacts below are available on weekdays between 08:00 and 16:00.

Vaccination site and dates: OUDTSHOORN HOSPITAL: 5 May

Contact person: Oudtshoorn
Sanet van Meersbergen; (044) 803 2464
Contact person: Kannaland
Maryna September: (028) 551 1010/1667/1342

Vaccination site and dates: ALMA CDC(MOSSEL BAY) 6, 7, 11,12 May

Contact person: Hessequa
Ilze Charles: (028) 713 8640
Contact person: Mossel Bay
Lida Swart: (044) 601 1915

Vaccination site and dates: PLETT TOWN CLINIC 10, 11 May

Contact person: Knysna
Carmen Grobler: (044) 302 5201
Contact person: Bitou
Girlie Lubbe: (044) 501 5100

Vaccination site and dates: GEORGE HOSPITAL 10 May

Contact person: George
Bernicois Konig: (044) 803 2079

Private healthcare workers: If you have not yet, please request your appointment through your manager or one central person from a facility in order not to have multiple people engaging from the same facility. See above contact details for persons to contact.

On the day of vaccination, you need to bring along your ID, Proof that you are a healthcare worker and Sisonke Vaccination Voucher

END

Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health

Town Clinic,Plettenberg Bay
Tel: 076 379 5423
Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za
Website: www.westerncape.gov.za

7 April 2021 Media Release: Bitou Municipality initiates Kranshoek Pilot Project on Covid-19 Awareness

Media Release: Bitou Municipality initiates Kranshoek Pilot Project on Covid-19 Awareness

For Immediate Release
7 April 2020

Kranshoek Neighbourhood Watch team on their door-to-door awareness and education of Covid-19 virus.

The Multi-Disciplinary Team in the Bitou Local Municipal area, recently arranged a Pilot Project for the Kranshoek community. The Project aims to raise Covid-19 awareness by utilising the structures in place to reach residents within the local community and considers all Covid-19 Alert Level 1 Regulations, adjusted from 1 March 2021.

Disaster Management Officer at Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), Lee-Ann Joubert, in conjunction with Sergeant Jansen from Kwano-South African Police Services (SAPS), steers this Pilot Project. The Plettenberg Bay, Kranshoek Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) teams represent the teams on the ground who will ensure that the intended audiences are informed. Kranshoek NHW team members were provided with training on the awareness of Covid-19. Following this, they were tasked to do door-to-door awareness, educating the community on the virus and how to stay safe. This project was put in place to stretch over a period of 31 days, with ongoing monitoring and weekly feedback from the NHW. After completion of the 31 days, the success of the project will be evaluated through another multi-disciplinary awareness campaign in the area. The statistics of the new Covid-19 cases within the community, from the beginning to the end of the project, will also be collated and compared to assist with determining its impacts.

All door-to-door visits will highlight the importance of sanitising hands, wearing face masks, reporting any symptoms to a clinic, what to do when someone tests positive for Covid-19, and the contact details of information centres, as well as all relevant stakeholders.

Role players including representatives from the SAPS, Garden Route District Disaster Management, Bitou Communications, the Western Cape Department of Health, Kranshoek NHW, Community in Blue, Plett-Hospice, the Ward Councillor and Ward Committee, Law Enforcement and Environmental Health Practitioners, all play an important role in the success of the project.

ENDS

12 March 2021 Media Release: Garden Route Health Platform Update

Media Release: Garden Route Health Platform Update on 12 March 2021

The Garden Route district has to date vaccinated 680 healthcare workers since the district’s roll-out of the vaccination plan on 3 March 2021 at George Hospital.

“We are happy to report that our first two weeks of vaccinations went without major hiccups and we have used 100% of the allocated vaccines. We also thank the staff who have received the vaccination, who despite experiencing mild side-effects, still showed up for work in order to provide a health service to our clients. It took effort and teamwork to set up the vaccination site at George Hospital. I would like to thank everyone involved, directly and indirectly for your contribution”, said District Director for Garden Route and Central Karoo districts, Mr Zee Brickles.

The overall intent of the vaccination roll-out is to prevent severe illness and death and to protect the health system. During Phase 1, healthcare workers are being targeted first, to ensure that we are able to vaccinate the most at risk healthcare workers first to ensure our readiness for a third wave. 

To date, the Western Cape received 25 960 vaccines in two tranches as part of the J&J/Sisonke implementation study: Tranche One (13 160) and Tranche Two (12 800).   

George Hospital remains the only vaccination site in the Garden Route as part of the Sisonke programme.

Planning for Phases 2 & 3

Phases 2 and 3 will cover larger numbers of residents and will include other frontline services, people in congregate settings, essential workers, those at risk due to age or comorbidity, and finally, in phase 3, the general adult population. We are working hard to put all the systems in place to roll out these phases as soon as approved vaccines arrive.   The current planning is for quarter 2, likely from May onwards.  

Register for vaccine 

During phase 1, only healthcare workers who wish to take up vaccination can register on the national Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS): https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za. Once registered they will be issued with a voucher indicating the vaccination site and date to go for the vaccination. Registered healthcare workers are asked to liaise with the relevant person at their workplace to book their appointment after they have received their voucher.  

Currently, we request non-healthcare staff not to register on the system. We will inform the public when they can start registering on the system.

Importance of vigilance 

We cannot become complacent. We want to remind the public of the need for continued COVID-19 vigilance in order to prevent a third wave.  Avoid crowded places, close-contact settings and confined and enclosed spaces. Always wear a mask when in public, wash your hands, don’t touch your face, keep 1.5m apart, cover your cough and stay home when sick– this is the best way to prevent a third wave.

Garden Route Stats

Sub-district

Total

Active

Recovered

Died

Hessequa

1 936

18

1 818

100

Mossel Bay

7 266

18

7 039

209

George

11 736

148

11 165

423

Knysna

4 779

25

4 594

160

Bitou

2 717

4

2 606

107

Kannaland

865

13

812

40

Oudtshoorn

3 914

97

3 565

252

TOTAL

33 213

323

31 599

1 291

 

 END

Nadia Ferreira

Principal Communications Officer

Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts

Western Cape Government Health

Town Clinic, Plettenberg Bay

Tel: 076 379 5423

Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za

Website: www.westerncape.gov.za

9 March 2021 Media Release: Thembalethu Bridge upgrade will boost Southern Cape economy

MEDIA RELEASE: Thembalethu Bridge upgrade will boost Southern Cape economy
Issued on behalf of SANRAL and George Municipality, Tuesday 9 March 2021

Western Cape, 9 March 2021 – With road infrastructure being prioritised in South Africa’s economic recovery plan in a post-COVID environment, the upgrade of the Thembalethu Bridge in George, bodes well for the Southern Cape economy. This project is a collaborative venture between SANRAL and the George Local Municipality, with the Department Transport having provided R82,127 million towards the funding of the project. SANRAL is the Implementing Agent working closely with the George Municipality.

The total construction period is between 24 and 30 months, which should create project participation opportunities for SMMEs as well as both direct and indirect jobs for the local community.

The scope of works involves the widening of the Thembalethu Bridge across the N2 from a single carriageway to accommodate two lanes in each direction, with additional turning lanes as well as extra space for pedestrians and cyclists.

“A new bridge will be constructed on the Western side. Once completed, the existing bridge will be raised and stitched to the new bridge, to ensure that the upgraded structure complies with the minimum bridge clearance of 5.2 metres,” explained Petronella Theron, SANRAL Project Manager.

Detailed design works are currently being finalised and the tender for a contractor will be out by June 2021. Taking the procurement processes into account, the contractor should be appointed by November 2021.

All SANRAL projects are guided by a 14-point plan that sets the tone for project liaison, sub-contracting and labour sourcing, as well as a commitment to its transformation policy that seeks to prioritise economic empowerment of black businesses in South Africa.

“With 30% of the project value being committed to targeted enterprises for subcontracting, there are huge opportunities for start-ups and emerging SMMEs to benefit from project participation,” said Thembinkosi Mosobela, SANRAL Stakeholder Coordinator in the Western Region.

A process of engagement with relevant stakeholders is already underway and SANRAL, together with the George Local Municipality will explore opportunities to provide training and development of SMMEs in the road construction sector, to ensure that they are equipped, capacitated and ready to tender for work packages that become available on this project.

“These information-sharing and training sessions are of cardinal importance to ensure we broaden the scope of economic opportunities to businesses in the surrounding communities. Our transformation objectives are particularly aligned to facilitate the participation of persons with disabilities, women-owned business as well as youth-owned operations,” continued Mosobela.

– Ends –

Issued on behalf of SANRAL by FTI Consulting. For assistance please contact Melany Kühn on 078 8877 004. For editorial content or additional information contact: pressoffice@nra.co.za

Regards

Chantèl Edwards-Klose

Manager: Communications & IGR

Office of the Municipal Manager

Office:044 801 9160

Cell:082 350 2420

Email: cedwardsklose@george.gov.za

3 March 2021 Media Release: First healthcare workers to be vaccinated in Garden Route

Media Release: First healthcare workers to be vaccinated in Garden Route

For Immediate Release
3 March 2021

The first group of healthcare workers from both the public and private sector in the Garden Route District will receive their Johnson & Johnson’s vaccinations today, 3 March 2021.

EMS Sub-district Manager for George, Cedric Yantolo (56) received the first vaccination at the launch of the George Hospital vaccination site. He understands the importance of getting the vaccine. “I am the only breadwinner in my family and some of my family members are sickly, so I cannot afford to get sick. So far I have protected myself with the only means available and that is personal protective gear.  I am however now ready for additional protection – the vaccine! I am afraid of needles, so getting this vaccine voluntarily really speaks to my believe in protecting myself and others”, he said.

Administering the vaccine was Carika-Ann Jansen van Vuuren, who is the operational manager for the outpatient department at George Hospital. When asked if she was hesitant about the vaccine: “A little bit but after I did the training, I realized that one can only benefit from the vaccine”.

Second tranche of vaccines  and first batch for Rural

The second batch of vaccines arrived in the province over the weekend. The province has been allocated 13 068 vaccines which will be delivered in two separate batches. Of this, 2 560 will be distributed to the Rural areas.  The Garden Route has received an initial 320 doses for the first week with another batch arriving next week.

Select health staff from the different sub-districts as well as private hospital staff who have registered and have received their voucher and confirmed an appointment with their manager will receive their vaccination this week.

Phased rollout 

The Sisonke implementation study vaccines are being administered over an eight-week period. We estimate that approximately 40% of healthcare workers in the province will be vaccinated in this timeframe with the available vaccines.

 To ensure that we prevent any situation emerging where a non-healthcare worker poses as a healthcare worker during this first phase of this vaccination programme, we require all healthcare workers to show workplace identification, or to provide their Health Professions Council registration number as verification.

Phases 2 and 3 will cover larger numbers of residents and will include other frontline services, people in congregate settings, those at risk due to age or comorbidity, and finally, in phase 3, the general adult population. We are working hard to put all the systems in place to roll out these phases as soon as approved vaccines arrive.

Sequencing of vaccines 

Since we are receiving several deliveries of the vaccine, the Department has introduced sequencing to ensure equitable access, and that the most vulnerable and most at risk of exposure healthcare workers are vaccinated first.

 As we continue to receive batches of vaccines, we commit to continue with vaccination so that all healthcare workers who are willing to be vaccinated get vaccinated.  The private sector will start with hospital staff first as per sequencing thereafter all other private health staff will be vaccinated as per sequencing.

If any health staff member of the private group sector has any questions to please speak to their manager who will need to book their appointment after they have registered and received their voucher.

Register for vaccine 

During phase 1, only healthcare workers who wish to take up vaccination can register on the national electronic system: https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za. Once registered they will be issued with a voucher indicating vaccination site and date to go for the vaccination. Registered healthcare workers are asked to liaise with the relevant person at their workplace to book their appointment after they have received their voucher.

We will inform the public when they can start registering on the system.

Captions

Feature Image: Johny Bruintjies, Marlyn Aries and Irene Maphaza received their vaccinations.

ENDS

Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health

Town Clinic,Plettenberg Bay
Tel: 076 379 5423
Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za
Website: www.westerncape.gov.za