Vaccination reduces Covid infections among HCWs

GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Vaccination has brought the number of Covid-19 infections down significantly among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the Western Cape compared with infections between the first and second wave in 2020.

This is according to Western Cape Head of Health Dr Keith Cloete, who spoke during the weekly online Covid-19 update on Thursday 27 May hosted by Premier Alan Winde.

From February to 25 May 2021, the monthly recorded infections among HCWs were 129, 40, 32 and 43 respectively.

These figures are notably lower than during the months between the first and second wave last year. From August to November 2020, the monthly infections were 432, 131, 152 and 402.

Cloete ascribed this difference to vaccination.

The province has received a total of 95 880 Johnson & Johnson doses to date of which 93 153 were used during the Sisonke programme from February to date. The wastage figure was about 2%. Healthcare worker "mop-up" vaccinations form part of phase 2.

Cloete said for phase 2 and 3, four types of vaccination sites are to be rolled out. The backbone of the vaccination programme is the small to large public sector sites which have been opening up.

The other three types are mass sites ( currently being identified and to be activated in the next two weeks), private sector sites (starting to open up), and workplace sites for which the processes are being refined.

Active cases HCWs

Timelines for the various age bands

The aim is to complete vaccination of the province's approximately 720 000 residents older than 60 by the end of June.

Transition from one age band to the next will be done once a significant proportion (about 70%) of the target population in the current age band has been vaccinated. The next age band (40 to 50 years) will be vaccinated from 1 July till 30 October.

Their registration should start before 1 July to ensure a smooth transition between the age bands.

Vaccination time line.

'Limited spaces for walk-ins'

Cloete said people who have received appointments via SMS notification will be prioritised, but there are limited spaces for walk-ins, depending on the available operational capacity and vaccines at individual sites.

"As more sites become operational and more appointment slots open up, more SMS notifications for appointments will be sent to all registered persons who have not been vaccinated yet, with one week notice."

Vaccination age bands