Old age homes urged to assist residents to register for the COVID-19 vaccination

As South Africa prepares for Phase 2 of the vaccine roll out programme in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Western Cape Minister for Social Development, Sharna Fernandez, is urging all old age homes and service centers for the elderly to assist their residents and service users to register for the COVID-19 vaccination, and to contact the provincial Department of Social Development (DSD) if further assistance is required in this regard.

The National Department of Health is facilitating the planning and implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination programme.  Phase 2 of the implementation of the national COVID-19 vaccination roll-out plan, includes vulnerable populations such as older persons.

“We encourage all residential  facilities and service centres to register residents and services users who are 60 years and older and are willing to be vaccinated as soon as possible on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS).

Although Government is in the process of rolling out COVID-19 vaccinations, now is not the time for us to let our guard down. It is crucial that we all play our part to keep ourselves, especially the elderly safe as the virus is still with us,” said Minister Fernandez.

“Our elderly citizens are at greater risk of requiring hospitalisation or other forms of specialised medical services if they contract COVID-19. As such, we remain on high alert and responsive to any potential risk of infections increasing in old age homes,”, added Minister Fernandez.

As of 22 April 2021, the number of residents in old age homes who have recovered from COVID-19 has increased to 2634. The current figures show an increase of 59 recoveries, and an increase in the number of active infections from 9 to 14 since the DSD last provided an update on 31 March 2021.

The provincial DSDs role as stipulated in the Older Persons Act, is to register residential facilities and to monitor adherence to norms and standards of care within facilities.

Whilst DSD subsidises older persons within these respective facilities, all old age homes are owned and managed independently.

In the Western Cape, there is a total of 300 old age homes of which, 117 are funded by the provincial DSD.    

“I wish to thank the managers of every old age home, Carers, staff, officials, volunteers and family members for their ongoing commitment and dedication in helping us manage the spread of the virus at all old age homes.

We are grateful and appreciative of all your efforts during these challenging times,” concluded Minister Fernandez.

All residential facilities can access information with regards to the COVID-19 Vaccination roll-out on www.vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za.

We urge the public to access credible information on https://www.westerncape.gov.za/department-of-health/coronavirus.