By Kaya 959 Reporter
Students, alumni, their families and friends can now receive their COVID-19 vaccine at Wits after a site was set up at the university’s main campus.
Wits officials have teamed up with private hospital group, Netcare, to administer the vaccines.
Netcare’s Mande Toubkin says it is a top health priority to ensure that everyone has access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
The site will run until 23 September. The COVID-19 vaccination team from Netcare Milpark Hospital in collaboration with Professor Shabir Madhi, dean of the Wits Faculty of Health Sciences, will assist with the vccine roll-out.
Those without medical aid will not be charged and for those on medical aid, Netcare says the vaccination will not affect the day-to-day benefit.
The site administers the Pfizer vaccine and is open on weekdays from 8am – 3pm.
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Easy registration process
Those wishing to vaccinate simply need to bring their ID document or passport. Staff will help them register their details on the electronic vaccination data system [EVDS] if they have not already done so.
“I’m appealing to everyone, in your families and in your communities, bring your mother and father, your sister and your friends, and helpers at home, so that they can be protected. Please make the most of this opportunity for vaccination,” said Jacques Du Plessis, managing director of Netcare’s hospital division.
He says this is another Netcare vaccination “pop-up” site and it has an initial capacity to vaccinate some 200 persons per day, which can be scaled up to meet demand as needed.
“This adds to the four established Netcare Vaccination sites at Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, Netcare Lakeview Hospital in Benoni, Johannesburg, Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital, in Durban, and Old Mutual Park in Pinelands, Cape Town, which together are able to vaccinate 5000 people daily, Monday to Friday,” he said.
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To date, Netcare has vaccinated more than 150 000 people including 33 000 healthcare workers at Netcare.
“An additional 22 Medicross vaccination sites are anticipated to further bolster the national vaccination rollout soon.”
Netcare says some 13.7 million people in South Africa have received at least one dose. Approximately half of them are fully vaccinated with either the Johnson & Johnson or the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
“We need to get to at least 35 million people by the end of the year, however with the vaccination apathy in society we are not likely to reach this level of protection. Unfortunately, we could expect a scenario that we will see a fourth wave from the middle of December and peaking in January,” du Plessis said.
