WESTERN CAPE NEWS - The Western Cape has administered 19 879 vaccines of the total of 25 960 doses it has received to date as part of the J&J/Sisonke implementation study.
This is 76,5% of the allocation received as part of the ongoing first round of vaccinations focused on the healthcare workers, both public and private.
This translates to almost 1 000 vaccinations administered per day since 17 February, according to a statement issued today, Wednesday 10 March, by the Western Cape Health Department.
As more vaccines arrive, more vaccination sites will be opened. George Hospital is part of the current 8 public and private vaccination sites across the province. The others are at Groote Schuur, Tygerberg, Khayelitsha District Hospital, Karl Bremer, Gatesville Melomed Hospital, Worcester and Paarl.
Sequencing of vaccines
Since a limited number of vaccines are currently available the Department has introduced sequencing to ensure equitable access, and that the most vulnerable and most at-risk-of exposure healthcare workers are vaccinated first.
Pro rata allocation per facility
Vaccines will be allocated pro rata per number of staff per facility. Within these allocations, further prioritization will take place taking into account individual vulnerability by age, individual vulnerability due to comorbidities, risk of exposure (patient facing vs non-patient facing staff) and criticality of setting (eg. working in critical care, Covid wards etc.).
The department says it is estimated that approximately 40% of healthcare workers in the province will be vaccinated with the available vaccines.
The continued roll-out of phase 1 of health care worker vaccinations should be completed by end April, depending on availability of vaccines.
Vaccination of public could start from May onwards
Phases 2 and 3 will cover larger numbers of residents and will include other frontline services, people in congregate settings, essential workers, those at risk due to age or comorbidity, and finally, in phase 3, the general adult population.
The department is working to put all the systems in place to roll out these phases as soon as approved vaccines arrive. The current planning is for quarter 2, likely from May onwards.
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