WATCH: Elderly Durban residents receive Covid-19 vaccine at Moses Mabhida
Residents, aged 60 and over, received their Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine earlier today.
THE second phase of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in the eThekwini district started this morning at People’s Park at Moses Mabhida. Residents, aged 60 and over, received their Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
According to the Department of Health sites were launched on Monday at Prince Memorial Mshiyeni Hospital, Clairwood Hospital Pharmacy, Addington Hospital, Pinetown and Chatsworth Clinic.
ALSO READ: How to register for the Covid-19 vaccine
On Monday, the national health department confirmed that 7707 health workers and 4288 people, aged 60 and older, received an SMS on Sunday for Covid-19 vaccination appointments this week.
“We are expecting to vaccinate about 67 per cent of the elderly population in eThekwini. From the population of about of 2,3 million, we are hoping to vaccinate 330 000,” said eThekwini Municipality speaker, Weziwe Thusi.
“We urge the elderly to get vaccinated. We are asking all religious leaders and councillors to talk to the community so they can be vaccinated,” said Thusi.
Thusi said as people continue to register for the vaccine, the Department of Health will register more sites.
An elderly woman from Durban, Farida Kajee, said she was relieved to have received the vaccine.
“This site it is so full today. I wish we could have gone to somewhere more relaxed,” said Kajee.
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Berea West resident, Ally Yusuf, said he was grateful for the opportunity.
“We are very grateful for this opportunity to be finally vaccinated because we are at risk as older people. We are very lucky that our government has rolled out the programme. We will get through this,” said Yusuf.
Musgrave resident, Polpathi Bisanath said she can now move around and visit restaurants after being vaccinated.
Residents are currently eligible to be vaccinated if they are over the age of 60, over the age of 18 with a co-morbidity or if they live in a congregate setting (hostel, informal settlement, crowded space).
There are five ways to register on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS):
Visit vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za
Use the WhatsApp line 0600 123456
Register via SMS by dialling *134*832#
Call the Covid-19 hotline 0800 029 999
Use the new QR by simply scanning and following the prompts.
According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize Mkhize, citizens living in old age homes will not receive an SMS because the vaccines will be brought to them.
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