Vaccine latest: Libraries to help elderly get their jabs in the Western Cape

With South Africa’s vaccine rollout plan having entered its second phase this week, efforts to ensure that the jab is available to as many citizens as possible are also ramping up.

This has led the Western Cape government to enlist the services of a large number of its public libraries, who they say are able to assist those who are older than 60-years-old with registration. 

Phase two of vaccine rollout continues  

As of 20 May 2021, the total number of people who have been vaccinated under the Sisonke Programme is 480 665.

The total number of people vaccinated in Phase Two as at 17.10 on Wednesday 19 May is 77 505. These vaccinations were with the first dose of Pfizer vaccine, the department of health said in a statement on Wednesday evening. 

19 May 2021 #COVID19 statistics in South Africa #CoronaVirusSA pic.twitter.com/Dcnct6nlw5

— Department of Health (@HealthZA) May 19, 2021

Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport in the Western Cape, Anroux Marais, announced in a statement on Thursday that public libraries in the province are actively assisting residents 60 years and older with vaccination registration.

“As we all have to do our part in registering as many elderly citizens as possible as they may not have the means to do so themselves, we commend our library service for volunteering to support the #LetsDoThis vaccination registration drive currently underway in the Western Cape”,” she said. 

Libraries assisting in Western Cape  

The public libraries in the following municipalities are available to assist the public with vaccination registration: 

• Bergrivier
• Bitou
• Breede Valley
• Cape Agulhus
• Cederberg
• City of Cape Town
• Drakenstein
• George
• Hessequa
• Kannaland
• Knysna
• Langeberg
• Oudsthoorn (with the exception of Bridgton public library due to cable theft)
• Prince Albert Municipality
• Saldanha Bay
• Stellenbosch
• Swartland
• Swellendam: only Railton Library. In other parts of the Swellendam Municipal area, healthcare workers are doing door to door vaccine registration with their smart phones.

The contact details of each of our libraries can be found on https://www.westerncape.gov.za/your_gov/106