Health

(1) Healthcare workers  play a supporting roll and make the public aware of the registration process to follow. They support the registrar with vaccination teams during the vaccination process.

(b)  The City of Cape Town is planning to assist the elderly at libraries. People will be able to go to libraries and be assisted with registration.

Additionally, if someone does not have access to the internet or a cellphone, they can be assisted with registration at the vaccine site, once phase 2 starts.

(c) The Western Cape Department of Health will officially launch the province’s Phase 2 vaccination rollout on 17 May focusing on over 60s. We would like to advise citizens on what to expect as we move forward during this phase.

As this will be the first week vaccinations will be open to the general population who are 60 years, the Department has taken the decision to first test the system to ensure that in a week’s time, we will be able to render a streamlined vaccination service to our elderly.

By adopting this responsible approach, the Department will be able to identify teething problems and correct these so we can render a dignified service and shield those who are vulnerable. The Western Cape Government has put in place a comprehensive vaccine rollout plan to ensure that we are ready for the mass vaccination programme.

What can be expected on Monday, 17 May (and the rest of the week)

During this week, the Department will continue vaccinating the remaining healthcare workers alongside vaccinating over 60s. However, the primary focus, through outreach teams, will be to vaccinate registered over 60s at Old Age Homes (OAH).

In addition, a smaller number of over 60s outside of OAH, will be contacted telephonically to come to a vaccination site closest to them to receive their vaccination. This will be limited and only those who are contacted should present to a vaccination site.

In the Metro, seven vaccination sites have been identified to be functional as a phase 2 vaccination sites during this week. They will serve as a vaccination site for both contacted over 60s and healthcare workers:

• Brooklyn Chest Hospital
• Helderberg Hospital
• Mitchells Plain Hospital
• Khayelitsha Hospital
• Karl Bremer Hospital
• Brackenfell Clinic
• Albow Gardens Clinic

Over the next few weeks, more vaccination sites will come online, including Rural sites, to provide vaccination service to the identified population.

2. Various facilities will be active vaccination sites, this will include PHC facilities and non health facilities in some cases.  Outreach teams will be going to various areas which would include  farming areas as well.

As responded at point 1c.

3.  The Department engages the provincial leadership of organised labour on an ongoing basis. The table below reflects the engagements with organised labour:

The following issues amongst others are presented to organised labour during such engagements:

• The provincial vaccine plan
• Aims of the Covid-19 vaccine in South Africa
• List of the licensed vaccines
• Test results of the vaccines
• Common side effects
• Herd immunity
• Phases and prioritisation of groups
• Governance components and arrangements
• Functional processes

• Progress on the vaccination programme
• Vaccinations nationally
• Provincial vaccinations by district;
• Vaccinations by vaccination site;
• Next target groups
• Planned vaccine supplies and programme (National Dept of Health).

In addition, the Department has embarked on a collaborative initiative engaging shop stewards at institutional level to equip them with knowledge and information about the roll out of the vaccine programme and the shop stewards in turn will inform union members and staff at ground level.  The table below reflects such engagements.

The Department also developed and distributed a question and answer sheet to inform and educate staff about the roll out of the vaccine.