Covid-19 Vaccine Latest: Record number of health workers vaccinated

The chaotic queues of people lining the street to get the Covid-19 vaccine at St Augustines hospital on Tuesday were as a result of an “overwhelming response” from health care workers to a call to come forward for the jab.

This was according to national co-principal investigator of the Sisonke Study and head of vaccines and pathogenesis research at the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (Caprisa), Dr Nigel Garrett, who said the Covid-19 vaccine study ends on Friday 14 May.

Health care workers who queued all day for the vaccine had earlier questioned whether the call to staff to arrive as “walk-ins” without appointments was a fake news message circulating on social media, but turns out this is not the case.

“The research teams from Caprisa and the SAMRC (SA Medical Research Council) have been implementing the Sisonke study across all districts of Kwazulu-Natal, and are currently vaccinating in Hlabisa, Dundee, Ixopo and in Durban,” he said.

“The demand in Durban has remained high, and we received a phenomenal turnout at the St Augustine’s Hospital vaccination site – an indication that HCWs are still very keen to get their vaccines. As previously planned, the definition of HCWs has been expanded from patient facing to include other health care personnel working in clinic settings, including hospitals, clinics and pharmacies,” Garrett said.

He said that HCWs who want to join the Covid-19 vaccine study must  register on the electronic vaccination data system, grant their consent to participate in the study and receive a voucher for vaccination. 

“Due to limited vaccine availability, vaccination sites have been working on a booking appointment to serve both private, public and out of hospital HCWs. As planned, in the final week we were able to offer vaccinations to additional HCWs due to an additional supply for KZN,” Garrett said.

“We could therefore offer a limited walk-in service. HCWs are welcome to attend provided that they have entered their information and have an official letter from their place of employment confirming their employment as a health care worker.  Staff at the site are assisting those who do not have vouchers to obtain one, as no-one can be vaccinated without a voucher,” he said.

Garret said staff at the site were doing their best to manage the Covid-19 vaccine processes to be Covid-19 compliant, although the large number of arrivals had been challenging. 

“On Monday 10th May a new vaccination site record was set when a record 1828 doses were administered at St Augustine’s,” Garrett said.

Who is eligible for Sisonke

 The National Department of Health defines “all people engaged in actions whose primary intent is to enhance health” as health workers. This includes all health personnel who are currently working in any Department of Health office or registered public and private health facility (hospital, clinic, laboratory, pharmacy, care facility) or who provide health services at a community level on behalf of the public or private sector. Sisonke is open to all administrative and support staff in the health system including staff from multilateral or global agencies involved in healthcare delivery, community health workers, care home workers, funeral workers and registered traditional health practitioners. Source: https://www.samrc.ac.za/media-release/calling-all-health-personnel-come-forward-enrolment-last-week-sisonke-phase-3-b-study