Race to reach 215 000 healthcare workers in Gauteng
PARKTOWN – Efforts are being made to vaccinate healthcare workers as swiftly as possible.
The Gauteng Premier David Makhura visited Charlotte Maxeke Hospital to witness the launch of the vaccination programme. He said the hospital was part of the group of hospitals in Gauteng province that are part of the early access study of Johnson and Johnson vaccines.
“This is a critical month as we are moving toward a year since the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus entered South Africa. Our Gauteng public healthcare system patient zero came here on 7 March. I am very happy to have met the doctors who saved Glynne’s (patient zero) life. This week reminds us that we have travelled a long journey as a country.”
Makhura added that in as much as people were lost along the way, the healthcare workers did a great job in saving lives.
“As we roll out and expand this early access, which is part of a study we look forward to – a moment where we will reach 10.4 million in our province who need to be vaccinated. By last week in Gauteng, we had vaccinated over 17 000 healthcare workers. It was at two sites. I am told that Charlotte Maxeke has received 3 900 doses and the good thing with Johnson and Johnson is that it’s a one-dose so people don’t have to come back.”
Read the full story here: VIDEO: Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital receives first round of the Covid-19 vaccine
He acknowledged that immunisation programmes are always difficult when patients have to come back or follow-up treatment.
Makhura said the private healthcare facilities working with other public health facilities will join in the programme too. The aim was to reach the 215 000 healthcare workers in Gauteng province as swiftly as possible.
Read more here: Covid-19: Gauteng Premier David Makhura tests positive for Covid-19
“The President announced that we will be getting 11 million additional vaccines from Johnson and Johnson during the second quarter. The mood I get on the ground is that people have gone beyond doubt and reluctance of the vaccine as they do work and save lives. We have seen a lot of healthcare workers in the last week who have been taking the vaccines. There have been incidents initially where a few people had mild reactions in some instances but so far so good,” said Makhura.
He added that this phase was helpful in drawing important lessons for application when doing mass vaccinations. “What is worrying us for now is the fact that beyond the healthcare workers there are a lot of people who are at risk. We are getting into winter and we have the elderly and people with co-morbidities. So as soon as we get done with the healthcare workers we are going to attend to the aforementioned, essential workers, people in congregate settings, people in schools and those in prisons.”
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