Healthcare worker vaccination update | Western Cape Government

News

News

Healthcare worker vaccination update

31 March 2021

The vaccination of healthcare workers as part of Phase 1 of Johnson & Johnson Sisonke implementation study is rapidly moving into the next phase – where non-patient facing, but essential healthcare workers will be receiving the vaccines – as we ready ourselves for the start of Phase 2 of the programme in May.

 

Vaccination Progress (Phase 1a)

To date, the Western Cape received 54 068 vaccines, as part of three tranches of deliveries through the Sisonke programme and have vaccinated 45 960 healthcare workers in the province. Over the next few days, before and after the Easter weekend, our vaccinators will be administering the remaining allocation of these vaccines, whereafter the next consignment will be to ensure we reach the remaining healthcare workers.

 

Phase 1b

As part of the Sisonke programme we are expecting to receive a further 15% or 30 000 doses vaccines, as part of the 200 000 allocated for the country, in the next delivery which is scheduled for the weekend of 11 April. With this confirmation of doses, it is estimated that the Western Cape will be able to cover 50% of healthcare workers through this study.

 

Vaccination sites

As we are not expecting any vaccines over the Easter weekend, meaning several of the current vaccination sites will be scaling down - once they have administered their allocation and await the next delivery. This will in turn result in fewer number of vaccines administered per site for a few days, but this will be increased as we get the next delivery after the Easter weekend.

 

Vaccinators

The training of vaccinators continues with 4 436 vaccinators having already registered and 2 326 have completed the training. Our teams are continuously looking at ways to increase the pool of vaccinators and are currently exploring the possibility of getting onboard student vaccinators to supplement capacity at sites, which will be required as we move into the next phases of the vaccination programme.

 

Shielding each other

With the holidays around the corner, we must remember the importance of fresh air and open spaces and continue keeping up our COVID-safe practices.

The vaccine is currently being rolled out to healthcare workers, but not enough of us have been vaccinated at this stage to stop the spread of the virus.

 

To keep safe over the holidays, please

•          Wear your mask at all times

•          Keep your holiday gatherings small and outdoors

•          Open all windows - also on public transport

•          Encourage “at risk” people to stay home

 

Let’s stay safe so that we keep moving forward.