Health
Question by:
Hon Rachel Windvogel
Answered by:
Hon Nomafrench Mbombo
Question Number:
13
Question Body:
With regard to the vaccination roll-out in the province:
- (a) What is the number of healthcare workers in (i) the Cape metropolitan area and (ii) rural districts who have been vaccinated in the province since the start of the roll-out and (b) what are the details of facilities where they work;
- whether there are any healthcare workers who have refused to be vaccinated; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) what mechanisms are in place to encourage healthcare workers to receive the vaccine?
Answer Body:
1 (a) As at 05 March, there were 17 568 healthcare workers vaccinated across the eight vaccination sites – 17 130 in the Metro and 438 in the Rural. The Rural vaccinations only started on 2 March.
The healthcare workers register on the national EVDS and provinces currently do not have access to granular detail on staff categories.
2.Vaccination is voluntarily. Several staff engagements have occurred to address staff concerns. The Department’s communication strategy is also geared towards regular communication to staff to:
- Give reassurance – evidence-led quality information: good set of tools used internally and externally (to form the foundation of discourse) such as FAQ/info sheet and voice-over slide presentation.
- Inspire trust through advocacy and info sharing: through a range of expert voices and “local” trusted people such as fellow healthcare workers throughout the health system. Not a punitive approach, but respectful and reasonable, yet hopeful.
- Hear voices, give honest feedback and be open and responsive: always give adequate time in sessions for listening and capturing feedback to ensure we maintain a dialogue. Counter polarization, while accepting we will not win all
Date:
Friday, March 5, 2021
