Vaccination sites open in Joburg

Since opening Covid-19 non-medical sites (NMS) from May 26 in the various city regions, over 19 000 people aged sixty plus have been vaccinated.

These NMS are mostly community halls and sports centres that are easily accessible by the residents. Both the provincial and city health departments have been on a massive drive to get the targeted residents to register online or at the nearest clinic

Vaccinations take place under strict Covid-19 protocols as you proceed from one station to the next for sanitising, registration, testing, and verification.

After receiving the Pfizer jab, you are directed to a monitoring station for at least 15 minutes where you are counselled on the possible side effects and what to do and where to go if adversely affected.

As the Pfizer vaccine is a two-jab vaccine, you are given a 42-day return date for the next vaccine jab.

There is a concerted effort to vaccinate all persons 60 years and above during this phase and they are given the necessary assistance to register. Thus far no serious complications or deaths have been reported of any person 60 years and above who has been vaccinated. Although the vaccine does not make you immune to the virus, it does provide a good measure of protection.

To receive the vaccine you need to pre-register on an online registration system known as the Electronic Vaccine Data System (EVDS).

The EVDS is available on South African Covid-19 Vaccination Programme Registration and follow the registration steps.

For support call the Covid-19 hotline on 0800 029 999.

You need the following to register

• Access to the internet on any device (cellphone, laptop, tablet, desktop)

• Your ID number or passport, (foreign national) Asylum certificate

• Your residential address

• Your cellphone number

Those who do not have access to the internet or mobile device can pre-register at their local clinics and vaccination sites. Those who are immobile will be assisted to register by community healthcare workers at their homes.

It remains extremely important for all of us to wear the masks daily, sanitise regularly, wash hands with soap thoroughly and keep at least 1.5m social distance.

South Africa is experiencing a third wave of the Covid-19 virus and there has been a spike in infections especially in Gauteng.

It is also important not to believe or circulate information that has not been officially released by the Department of Health as this could be fake news.

Everyone must take responsibility to keep safe including other family members, colleagues, fellow commuters, congregants, friends and fellow pupils. Infections are not restricted to the elderly or frail, anyone can be infected at any time even if you have received your vaccination.