President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the second phase of vaccinations is scheduled to start in mid-May, with registration set to kick off in April.
Ramaphosa made the announcement on Tuesday when he addressed South Africans on the developments on the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was after meetings with the National Coronavirus Command Council, President’s Coordinating Council and Cabinet.
“Under phase 2, we hope to vaccinate more of our people over six months. In line with international best practice, we will be prioritising those at the highest risk of hospitalisation and death, such as people over 60 and people living with co-morbidities,” Ramaphosa said.
He said that people would be encouraged to register online, but those without online access will be able to register in person.
Electronic Vaccination Data System
“To ensure that we have supporting infrastructure over 2 000 vaccination sites have been identified across the country.
“These include general practitioners’ rooms, community clinics and pharmacies, retail outlets and in some instances, larger facilities like stadiums and conference centres,” said Ramaphosa.
He said that An Electronic Vaccination Data System had been established to manage the vaccine rollout and direct people towards vaccination sites closest to where they live.
The system will allow people to register, receive an appointment date and site, and receive a digital certificate or a hard copy confirming their vaccination status once vaccinated.
“Everyone that will be vaccinated will have to be registered on the system first, and you will be invited to register once you become eligible.
“We will work through provincial and district structures and community-based organisations to register those citizens who do not have access to technology,” he said.
Delays
He added that government was developing mechanisms to identify and register undocumented persons so that t y too can be vaccinated.
Ramaphosa admitted that there were delays in the country’s vaccination process, but he remained confident that government would still hit its targets.
To date more than 250 000 health workers have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as part of the Sisonke trial, which started in February.
“We have secured 11 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which we know to be effective against the dominant variants in our country.
He said that government had secured a further 20 million doses and was finalising the agreement with Johnson & Johnson.
“Together, this supply of vaccines will provide us with enough doses to vaccinate 41 million people,” he said
Picture: Cape Town etc gallery
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