Gauteng Premier David Makhura says he is impressed with the speed of the vaccine roll-out to healthcare workers in the province.
He visited the vaccination site at Netcare Milpark Hospital on 11 March alongside Gauteng Health MEC Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi to assess their efforts in administering the Johnson and Johnson vaccine as part of the Sisonke Early Access Programme.
Makhura said that as of 10 March, 31 000 healthcare workers across the province had been vaccinated and by the close of day on 12 March, the province will have exhausted the vaccines given.
“As of today [11 March] 3 900 healthcare workers have been vaccinated at Netcare Milpark Hospital,” said Makhura.
According to Leanne van Rooy of Netcare, an average of 880 vaccines were administered each day since 3 March at Netcare Milpark Hospital.
“We need more vaccines and want to get done vaccinating healthcare workers as soon as possible before we get into winter. As the season approaches, our greatest concern is the elderly and those living with comorbidities, who will be the focus of the next phase of the vaccination programme.
“We are already concerned about a third wave and want to get the 250 000 healthcare workers in Gauteng vaccinated as soon as possible.”
Makhura said that 4 500 new healthcare workers were brought in to deal with Covid-19 and their contracts will be extended with the addition of another 1 060 healthcare workers to assist at the new facilities we have created.
“In the last 12 months, we have tripled the number of beds in the public sector in Gauteng.”
He emphasised the critical role of the public-private sector partnership in the healthcare sector going forward.
“We can’t wait to get the vaccine out to the masses,” he concluded.
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