To improve the low registration rate in the Klipfontein sub-district, the Department of Health partnered with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to help with registration and vaccinations at Boxer stores in Philippi and Mitchell’s Plain, where community members collected their social payouts. More than 360 community members were vaccinated over the two days at these Boxer pop-up sites.
Mitchell’s Plain resident Sulaman Haywood, 61, got his jab at the Boxer pop-up and Sassa collection site in Mitchell Plain Town Centre.
“The Mitchell’s Plain Day Hospital staff asked me if I wanted the Covid-19 vaccination and I was happy they were there to help me because this virus is killing our people and it is important to protect yourself by taking the vaccine,” said Mr Haywood.
Christopher Capito, 65, also from Mitchell’s Plain said: “I received my second dose of the vaccine after queuing in the Sassa line at the Mitchell’s Plain vaccination pop-up Boxer store with my neighbour, Dorethea van Zyl, 77, who I encouraged to get her vaccine too because it is important to protect ourselves from the virus. I encourage other community members to get vaccinated.”
The Department of Health interns together with Community Health Workers assisting with the vaccine rollout, have been deployed since Monday July 5 in the community to conduct door-to-door registration and activations in malls as part of the Department’s “Boots on the Ground” campaign to increase the level of registration and vaccination in the community.
To ramp up the number of vaccinations administered in the coming weeks and to make the vaccines accessible to the community, pop-up vaccination sites will be set up in the coming days for eligible people who are not able to access their nearest vaccination sites.
Health officials will be loud hailing and encouraging communities to access these sites. The first pop-up vaccination site will be set up at Westgate Mall in Mitchells Plain tomorrow, Thursday July 29 and walk-in in the eligible age groups are welcome.
Mitchells Plain Community Health Centre is offering weekend vaccination on Saturday from 8am to noon, for all eligible clients. Walk-ins and people who have received their booking SMS are encouraged to come for their vaccine.
The EVDS system will continue to allocate available appointment slots in the following order of priority:
1. people 60 years and older requiring their first dose of Pfizer vaccine;
2. people 60 years and older who are eligible for their second dose of Pfizer vaccine (approximately 42 days after their first dose);
3. people aged 50 -59 years requiring their first dose of Pfizer vaccine; and
4. people aged 35 to 49 years are eligible to register, and receive their first dose of Pfizer vaccine in August.
A limited number of walk-ins will be accommodated at the vaccination sites, depending on the available capacity and vaccine doses available at each site.
Over 35s, can register at no cost by using the USSD service, dial *134*832# (data free) from your phone to start the registration process or send the word “REGISTER” to 0600 123 456 on WhatsApp or visit http://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za. You can also access this link on our website, www.westerncape.gov.za