Support for the TRIPS Covid-19 waiver is steadily starting to gain momentum.

Professor Jackie Dugard, from the University of the Witwatersrand, says more than 100 countries are now supporting the initiative.

The initiative was originally put forward by India and South Africa in October of 2020.

The initiative calls for the temporary waiving of companies’ rights to intellectual property to allow poorer countries to produce their own Covid-19 vaccines.

Dugard says this would, in the long run, significantly increase access to vaccines.

Read more on the initiative here.

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The Vooma Vaccination week kicked off on Friday 03 December and it’s hoped that people will take time over the weekend to get their Covid-19 vaccination.

The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross says she will be visiting some vaccination sites over the weekend.

Ross said: “Getting vaccinated means you’re less likely to end up in hospital or die should you contract Covid-19. I urge our residents to make full use of these additional opportunities before we enter the fourth wave of infections.” Ross will check up on the queues at the Langa and Parow Shoprite Park vaccination sites over the weekend.

These are the vaccination sites open in Cape Town this weekend
Sub-district Site Name Saturday 4 December operating hours Sunday 5 December operating hours
Northern Brackenfell 08:00 – 15:00 08:00 -13:00
Northern Wallacedene 08:00 – 13:00 08:00 – 13:00
Northern Bloekombos 08:00 – 13:00 08:00 – 13:00
Klipfontein Masincedane 09:00 – 15:00 –
Tygerberg Parow Shoprite Park 09:00 – 15:00 –
Western Langa 09:00 – 14:00 09:00 – 14:00
Eastern Mfuleni Shoprite 09:00 – 15:00 09:00 – 15:00
Eastern Blue Downs Shoprite 09:00 – 15:00 09:00 – 15:00
Khayelitsha Thusong Hall 09:00 – 15:00 09:00 – 15:00
Khayelitsha Makhaza Mall 09:00 – 15:00 09:00 – 15:00
Khayelitsha France informal settlement – 09:00 – 15:00
Eastern Shoprite Mfuleni 09:00 – 15:00 –
Eastern Shoprite Blue Downs – 09:00 – 15:00
Eastern Lwandle municipal offices parking Grounds 09:00 – 15:00 09:00 – 15:00
Eastern

Onverwacht open Grounds

(next to T.V informal settlement) –

Onverwacht Street, Nomzamo

 09:00 – 15:00 09:00 – 15:00

“Vaccine hesitancy is prevalent in many communities because of widespread misinformation. The Vooma vaccination weekend gives residents an opportunity to go to one of the public health vaccination sites and have all their questions answered, but also to get vaccinated. Pre-registration is no longer a requirement, so individuals can literally arrive at a vaccination site and will be guided through the entire process,” says Ross.

All provinces will increase their vaccination sites at transport interchanges, shopping malls and recreational areas.

Those 50 years and older who will be getting their first jab will get a R200 shopping voucher.

The Vooma Week will be supported by a range of activities including lucky draws with cash prices of up to R100 000 for those who are getting their first inoculation for 2021. The Department says there are still 4 million people, 50 and older that are not vaccinated in the country. They are at the highest risk for severe illness and death.

Younger people are however not without risk – 40% of hospital admissions occur in people younger than 50.

 

 

Premier Alan Winde has encouraged Mother City residents to make use of the Vaxi Taxi initiative to get their Covid-19 vaccine.

The initiative uses two EMS ambulances and visits residents in their communities, allowing easier access to an injection.

Since its launch in October, the initiative has already vaccinated around 2000 Cape Town residents in the Gugulethu, Kuilsriver and Khayelitsha communities.

Get the latest Western Cape Covid-19 updates here.

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The Western Cape Health Department says it will work towards increasing access to Covid-19 vaccines in poorer communities.

Head of Health, Dr Keith Cloete says current data shows that a larger percentage of residents, in more affluent areas, are fully vaccinated.

Cloete says it’s especially pensioners in the Klipfontein-, Tygerberg-, Khayelitsia and Mitchells Plain areas that have not yet had access to an injection.

Access this week’s Western Cape Covid-19 digital conference here.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) says reaching a global vaccination equity target of 40% needs a whole of government & society approach.

WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus says a more aggressive approach is needed to ensure that globally, more people get immediate access to a Covid-19 vaccine.

He says like any other natural disaster the Covid-19 pandemic should also be treated with urgency.

Read more here.

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