Covid-19: mega vaccination site with drive-through facility opens at Retail Park in Boksburg

Medicare 24, in partnership with the Department of Health and the City of Ekurhuleni, officially launched a pop-up vaccination site at Retail Park, in Boksburg, on September 2.

The facility, which has been given the thumbs-up by the metro and provincial government, can at full capacity administer 2 000 vaccines a day, through both the walk-in and drive-through sections. The facility is operational seven days a week from 07:00 to 21:00.
According to Medicare 24 MD James Murray, the newly-opened facility already vaccinates around 680 people a day, and the numbers are growing as more people become aware of the facility.

The drive-through service follows the same process as the walk-in stations, but people eligible to use it are 65 years and older, people with disabilities and mothers travelling with children.

MMC for Health and Social Development Nomadlozi Nkosi, Gauteng Transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo, Department of Health Ekurhuleni district health manager Terrence Magoro, HOD of health and social development Jerry Chaka, senior manager in the primary healthcare division for the northern region of Ekurhuleni Sr Thelma Nekhumbe, Retail Park shopping centre owner Aubrey Bentel, the Medicare MD and other guests attended the launch.

Best formula for success

Mamabolo thanked Medicare 24, Retail Park and the City of Ekurhuleni for coming together to create what he described as a ‘beautiful life-saving facility’.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The partnership between government and the private sector is the best formula for success,” said Mamabolo.
“We have seen that many countries depend on the skills and expertise of private sector and government to succeed in building a better country.
“Government can’t do everything, as they sometimes don’t have the skills and the expertise.
“So using what I see here as an example, I can assure you the model used is the way to go if we want to succeed in building our country’s economy and save lives.

Achievement

“The fact that you already have 680 people per day going through this facility just after opening the site is already a huge achievement.
“Your numbers are extremely high compared to the many other facilities established months ago, but they are still struggling to attract more than 200 people per day.

“Your involvement helps a lot to protect the economy because if we don’t vaccinate or reach the target, we will still be exposed to increasing numbers of infections, and that means lockdowns, hospitalisation and all that.
“You may not see the results now, but you are doing your part to build and preserve our economy, build our nation and our country. Thumbs up to all of you.”

Citizens must play their part

Nkosi described the facility as a beautiful and massive vaccination site and thanked all those involved in putting together the structure, including the landlord, who made the space available.
She said citizens must now play their part by making sure they are protected by getting the vaccine.

“We need to introduce more programmes aimed at encouraging community members to make use of the mega facility to ensure all our people are protected from this invisible enemy ravaging our country.
“Above all, people need to be taught that these vaccines are safe and more effective in protecting them against becoming sick or
killed by the virus,” said Nkosi.

Magoro and Chaka also thanked Medicare 24 and Retail Park management for the initiative, adding that their departments would go all out to preserve and support the partnership aimed at saving people’s lives.

Experts have been murmuring about the likelihood of a fourth wave, saying the best protection against the possible next wave was to vaccinate.

Also Read: Got my shot, find yours