The second phase of the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out kicks off today using the Phizer vaccine, with the target being 5 million senior citizens over the age of 60 years old. Government has set this to be done in 44 days which will end June 2021.
Given the setbacks experienced during the Sisonke trial for the J&J vaccine, this target will be met with many sceptics, yet Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize is under no illusion about what lies ahead.
“We know that everyone has been very anxious to know what will happen and how we will start to vaccinate our most vulnerable citizens and then move onto vaccinating the general population,” Mkhize said.
To add to the 5 million senior citizens, thousands of healthcare workers have yet to receive their vaccine and will be accommodated during phase 2.
1.2 million senior citizens have registered so far for the vaccine according to the minister, with the goal to get 7,707 senior citizens at old ages homes this week alone. During this time, officials are wanting to vaccinate the 700,000 healthcare workers not yet vaccinated.
Government have strictly advised that there will be no walk-ins during this phase, however in some provinces such as Mpumalanga and the North West this will be allowed due to smaller populations. The walk-ins would be for the senior citizens that have travelled long distances to the vaccine site.
The process will be slow in the beginning to iron out the teething problems and will require all the help and thoroughness of roles players to get the process to where it needs to be.
“This is just to know how many vaccines you will get out of a vial and how you draw out the requisite amount, to allow us a few days to iron out teething problems and we expect some there will be many teething problems so we are expected to start slow.”
Sources:
EWN News
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