Healthcare workers flood Steve Biko hospital
The health department has called on healthcare workers to register on the portal for vaccinations to be managed properly.
Gauteng MEC for Health Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi speaks during a press conference, 25 January 2021, during a visit to the Nasrec Field Hospital for Covid-19. The Nasrec Field Hospital will be able to cope with the surge of Covid-19-infected patients as hospitals have been burdened with the number of admissions during the second wave. Picture: Michel Bega
Gauteng Health MEC Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi has reassured healthcare workers in the province none of them will be excluded from the vaccination programme.
This was after some of them flooded the Steve Biko Academic Hospital on Sunday, fearing the vaccine supplies might run out before they get their jabs.
“We want to reassure our healthcare workers there is no need to panic as none of them will be left behind. To do so would be catastrophic and will leave the system exposed as they are an integral part of the healthcare system,” Mokgethi said.
“The implementation study is being rolled out in phases, starting with the Steve Biko Academic Hospital and the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital to both private and public frontline workers. All our facilities in the province will be covered as the vaccine gets delivered.”
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Gauteng has received 16 800 Johnson & Johnson doses, which are now being administered at Chris Hani (11 080 doses) in Soweto and Steve Biko (5 720 doses) in Tshwane.
As of Saturday, 2 134 healthcare workers had been vaccinated, including organised labour leaders who are also health professionals.
Doctors are excited about being vaccinated in the first phase of our #Covid19 vaccine rollout. The second phase of the plan will mean a decrease in the number of #Covid19 patients being admitted to hospitals, says DrSangeetha Thomas at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital.#IChooseVacciNation pic.twitter.com/SpZFTfzokQ
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) February 22, 2021
The total number of vaccines administered is 15 388.
The vaccination drive will be in three phases, with phase one starting with frontline healthcare workers and phase 2 focusing on the vaccination of essential workers, persons in congregate settings, people over 60 years and people over 18 years with comorbidities.
Phase 3 will focus on those older than 18 years.
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Mokgethi further called on Gauteng healthcare workers to register on the Vaccine Data System portal to ensure vaccinations are properly managed.
“This is important in order to manage the flow of traffic to the vaccination sites and to avoid a situation where people show up when they have no appointment.”
Compiled by Vhahangwele Nemakonde
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