HEALTHCARE workers at the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial and Inkosi Albert Central Luthuli hospitals will be among the first people to receive vaccine doses in KwaZulu-Natal.
The KZN Department of Health kicked off its vaccination launch on Thursday at the Prince Mshiyeni hospital where Dr. Nerika Maharaj will be the first health-care worker to be vaccinated in the province.
Sihle Zikalala, KZN Premier, said the province received over 10 800 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The doses will be divided between the two hospitals with 5760 going to Albert Luthuli and 5040 to Prince Mshiyeni.
“These two hospitals were chosen because they have the largest number of employees in the province, as well as the highest number of employees affected by Covid-19. They are both closer to the Medical Research Council sites,” said Zikalala.
The vaccination roll-out plan for the country was initially suspended after research found that the Oxford-AstraZaneca vaccine was not effective against the 501.V2 variant which was found first in South Africa.
ALSO READ: First batch of Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine arrives in SA
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine reportedly has a higher efficacy (57 per cent) against the 501.V2 variant along with an 85 per cent protection against severe Covid-19 infection.
Zikalala said he will not be receiving a vaccine jab this round but will wait for his turn.
He has also cautioned against conspiracy theories against the Covid-19 vaccine.
“We are aware that a lot of things have been said about the vaccine, some of which may discourage our healthcare workers and the general public from taking it. We wish to plead with all South Africans to have faith in the vaccine, and to know that the Government of our country would never subject you to a vaccine that may be detrimental to your health,” he said.
These are the people who will be prioritised in KZN when the next batch of Covid-19 vaccines arrive
• Public sector health care staff: 67 644
• Medical doctors, dentists, pharmacists, Emergency Medical Services: 9292
• Interns: 390
• Nurses: 34 279
• Non-OSD staff: 20 417
• Allied health professional: 2639
• Engineers/artisans: 366
• Staff providing social services: 256
• Privately contracted staff working in public sector: 14625
• Traditional healers: 5939
• Military health care staff: 350
• NGO sector staff: 6699
• Environmental health practitioners: 360
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
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