Everson Luhanga
It’s happening – the vaccines are here.
There are still delays, and a bit of confusion, and mixed messaging.
But they’re here.
After 479,768 health workers have been vaccinated, the rest of South Africa can now prepare to roll up their sleeves and get a jab.
By Wednesday at least 40,000 people had got their first Pfizer dose – considered the top jab of the five on offer in the world at the moment.
In addition to government vaccination sites, private pharmacy chains have also joined in, with some of them taking walk-ins with no appointments – as long as you’re registered on the national vaccination database https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za/#/.
At Dischem in Midrand on Tuesday there was a queue, but they were taking over 60s registered on the system without appointments. A queue of about 113 took two hours, but there were reports of much slower queues at one pharmacy in the Western Cape.
Doctors said the walk-ins are happening because of problems with the appointments system, but at least vaccine sites are filling the gap.
Dr. Elijah Nkosi, CEO of the South African Medical and Dental Practitioners Provider Network, said the vaccination rollout process has been going well so far.
Portia Mtshali, a nurse at Diepsloot OR Tambo local clinic, said they are ready and excited to start their rollout.
Alexandra community activist Simon Sekhitla who has been encouraging people in the township to get the jab said there has been an impressive turn up for people in one of the most congested townships in the country. “We are happy that the government has prioritized the elderly, especially in townships.
Sekhitla said there are plans to help the elderly register as most of them have challenges using the internet.
Gogo Cynthia Kekana, 78, from Alexandra thanked the government for securing the vaccines before the predicted third wave hit the country. “All we need to do now is take our part as the government has done so well for securing the vaccines,” she said.
And at the Chris Hani Vaccination centre, health workers took a moment recently to celebrate properly.
