UPDATE: Vaccinations at old age homes continue, 34 058 people vaccinated so far

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) continues to work closely with old age homes to ensure that their residents and staff receive their COVID-19 vaccine.

As of 07 July 2021, 34 058 persons have been vaccinated across old age homes in the province as part of Phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out plan. This includes residents and support staff.

“Although the registration for COVID vaccination has opened on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) for people over the age of 50 years, we are continuing to encourage all residential facilities for the elderly, to register their residents and staff on the EVDS.

Our elderly citizens are considered a high-risk group in terms of requiring hospitalisation or other forms of specialised services if they contract COVID-19. As such, we are continuing to prioritize this vulnerable grouping in terms of our efforts to combat COVID-19,” said the Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Sharna Fernandez.

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

Whilst the department 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 DSD.

As of 07 July 2021, the total number of residents in old age homes who have recovered from COVID-19 has increased to 2 813. The current figures show an increase of 58 recoveries, and an increase in the number of active infections from 133 to 136, since the Department last provided an update on 30 June 2021.

“I wish to thank the provincial Department of Health, the management teams of every old age home, carers, staff, officials and family members for their ongoing commitment and devotion 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.

Let us all work together to protect our senior citizens residing in old-age -homes, our own homes, and also our communities. Always wear a mask properly in public, sanitise regularly, avoid crowded places, keep your gatherings small and preferably outdoors,” concluded Minister Fernandez.

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

For more information about our other services, please refer to the Western Cape Department’s Website below:

https://www.westerncape.gov.za/dept/social-development