Pop-up sites makes vaccination against COVID-19 easily accessible

Pop-up sites makes vaccination against COVID-19 easily accessible in Mitchells Plain and Klipfontein

The risk of being hospitalised or dying from COVID-19 is real – our data has shown this throughout the pandemic. If you are 50 years and older, you are at higher risk. People over the age of 50 are at increased risk of COVID-19. This risk becomes worse when combined with underlying illnesses (such as kidney disease, diabetes, and hypertension). 

Over a 12-week period during the third wave, those aged 50 years and older accounted for 60% of hospital admissions and 83% of deaths. Research in the Western Cape shows that people over 50 years have 7.5 times higher risk of contracting severe COVID-19. A fully vaccinated person is 4.3 times less likely to die of COVID-19 than an unvaccinated person.  

The Mitchells Plain area has been one of the lower areas where this age group has taken up vaccination. Our teams have adjusted their approach and weekly pop-up sites are now a standing feature at grocery stores, shopping malls, SASSA  points and many more – taking vaccination to the people. This enables our citizens, especially those over 50 years of age to have easy access to vaccination, and by doing so are protected against a possible fourth wave. These pop-up sites will be available for the entire week between 09h00 – 14h00 at the following locations:

Being fully vaccinated provides great protection. In the Western Cape,  2 339 316 people have already been vaccinated of which 1 880 633 people of all ages are fully vaccinated. In our high-risk age bands who are fully vaccinated we have reached 51.69% (353 614 ) of the 50–59-year-olds and 62.03% (455 105 ) in those over 60 years.

In Klipfontein and Mitchells Plain we have been able to provide protection to the high-risk group. In those over the age of 60 living in Klipfontein, 24 226 (53.99%) have been fully vaccinated and in Mitchells Plain 24 330 (49.97%). 

In those between the ages of 50 – 59, residing in Klipfontein, 17 666 (43.76%) have been fully vaccinated and in Mitchells Plain 17 383 (30.15%).

We still have much to do but we need your support, which is why we appeal to these citizens to make the most of the local vaccination opportunities which are available at these easy accessible pop-up sites. 

“We can take back our lives by standing together to get vaccinated. We are still in this pandemic together and COVID-19 has taken so much from us. This vaccine gives us hope as a form of protection against severe illness or death from COVID-19. By getting vaccinated, you are protecting yourself and those around you, particularly the elderly and more vulnerable people in your community. To prevent the severity of the impact of the fourth wave, I encourage people to vaccinate,” urges Dr Shahieda Jacobs, Medical Officer for the Klipfontein and Mitchells Plain sub-structure.  

Let’s save our summer

The Department urges citizens not to delay taking the first vaccination to ensure they have enough time between doses to complete their vaccination by December. If we are able to vaccinate 70% (or more) of our adult population with by December, we will have a much safer summer. Vaccines are the best way of saving ourselves from illness, death and ongoing disruptions of our lives and work.

To Save Your Summer please do the following:

1. Go for vaccination as a matter of urgency

2. Continue to wear a mask (even when vaccinated)

3. Ensure open windows, fresh air and good ventilation (even when vaccinated)

4. When you have symptoms, stay home