Garden Route gearing up for Covid vaccinations phase 2

GEORGE NEWS - George Hospital will cease to be a vaccination site at the end of the Sisonke trial, during which health care workers received Covid-19 vaccinations.

According to Western Cape Health Department spokesperson Nadia Ferreira, a vaccination site opened at Harry Comay Hospital last week and the other sites that have been announced for the George sub-district are Thembalethu CDC (Ngakani Street), George Central Clinic (Progress Street) and Uniondale Hospital.

A mobile vaccination unit will also be available.

Various vaccination sites have furthermore been announced for the other sub-districts.

Phase 2 vaccinations are to start on Monday 17 May and will kick off with persons over 60 years of age.

The Garden Route recorded 135 more cases in the past week, from 3 to 10 May.

In the Western Cape, 68 222 of the 90 840 doses for healthcare workers have been administered to date. Premier Alan Winde said in a recent statement that they anticipate to cover more than 60% of health care workers with the limited doses being received via the Sisonke programme.

"To ensure a prompt start to the vaccine programme in the Western Cape, Pfizer vaccines will be used for the remaining healthcare workers (phase 1b) and for the start of phase 2 (60 years or older). This programme will gain momentum by the end of May, as the Johnson and Johnson vaccines become available."

Phase 2 vaccinations are to start on Monday 17 May and will kick off with persons over 60 years of age.

"As a province, vaccine distribution will take place each month to ensure coverage of 5 076 130 people. In May, we anticipate the receipt of 260 000 of the single-dose J&J vaccine and 135 600 of the two-dose Pfizer to provide a total of 395 600 vaccines," said Winde.

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