Medical researcher and board-chair of SAHPRA, Professor Helen Rees says there is sufficient evidence that the currently available Covid-19 vaccines are reasonably effective against the Delta-variant.

The Health department over the weekend announced that the variant, which was first reported in India, has now become the dominant variant here in South Africa.

Rees says the variant is responsible for the sudden increase in infections.

She says the current generation of Covid-19 vaccines were all developed in response to the original virus.

Follow the full briefing here.

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The World Health Organization says the vaccine technology-hub, to be opened here in South Africa, will help bring the country a step closer to developing and producing its own vaccines.

The organization says this will also lessen the country’s dependence on developed countries to supply medicines.

WHO chief scientist, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan says the organization will partner with the South African and French governments to bring the continent’s first Covid-19 messenger RNA hub into realization.

She says the facility will ensure that, during future pandemics, vaccines reach African countries much faster.

Read more on the initiative here.

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If you know of people 60 years or older in the Western Cape who want to register for a Covid-19 vaccine, but they don’t have access to technology, they can go to one of 75 centres located across the province to do so.

Employees at the Western Cape’s 75 Cape Access Centres, located across the province, are now available to assist residents to register for their COVID-19 vaccine.

The Cape Access programme makes internet technology available free of charge to communities across the Western Cape, with a special focus on rural areas where access is needed most.

Premier Alan Winde has called on the private sector and other civil society organisations to help residents to register for their vaccine.

The 75 Cape Access centres are located in:

• Cape Town Metro (including 9 Wale Street in the Western Cape Government building);
• West Coast (including the Langebaan Thusong Centre and the Citrusdal Thusong Centre);
• Central Karoo (including Beaufort West Thusong Centre and Leeu Gamka library)
• Garden Route (include Mossel Bay Thusong Centre and the New Horizons Library in Plettenberg Bay);
• Overberg (including Hawston Thusong Centre and the Bredasdorp Thusong Center); and
• Cape Winelands (including Multipurpose centre in Klapmuts and Worcester Thusong Centre).

For more information on Cape Access centres:

• Visit: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/cape-access/find-e-centre
• Call: 0860 142 142 to find your nearest Cape Access Centre.

“I again urge residents who are 60 years and older to register for their vaccines. If you are not yet eligible for your vaccine, you can assist those in your family and community to register for their vaccines.”

To register, please visit www.westerncape.gov.za and click on the link, or Dial *134*832# and follow the prompts (FREE on all South African Networks), or WhatsApp the word REGISTER to 0600 123456.

If you are over 60 and registered for your COVID-19 vaccine, you can expect:

• An SMS confirming your registration.
• A second SMS with an appointment date and the place – for those who have already registered this should come in the next 2-3 weeks.
• Get vaccinated with your first dose.
• Proof of vaccination card.
• An appointment date for your second dose (if two-dose vaccine).

The time has come to fight back against COVID-19. #LetsDoThis, Western Cape!

The Western Cape vaccinated almost 1000 people on day one of Phase 2 yesterday, with health teams going to old age homes, including a small number of people at vaccination sites and health workers.

From next week more vaccination sites will be coming online.

A retired nurse yesterday became the first eligible non-health worker in the Western Cape to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The 61 year old Mara Majiedt worked at Tygerberg Hospital for just over 40 years and ended her public service in 2018. She received her vaccination, along with her husband, at the Brackenfell Vaccination Centre and wore a special mask to mark the occasion.

Her mask featured a picture of her friend, who she says was one of the first healthcare workers who passed away due to COVID-19. Majiedt says she got the shot to protect her family.

Elderly add their voice of support to the vaccine:

Another resident, Lillian Slamat, has encouraged elderly residents to consider vaccination. The Elsies River resident was among the oldest residents to be vaccinated in the Western Cape. “Tannie Lilly,” aged 90, says she had no nerves before getting her jab at the Karl Bremer Hospital Vaccination Centre.

“I am taking the vaccine today to protect myself. I would encourage others to take the injection as well, it’s something good and will help you. I was not nervous, but I was up at 3am which is my normal time to wake up. You could say I was excited.”

Belhar resident Jean Arnold, 69, was the second resident who received her vaccination at the Karl Bremer Vaccination Centre. “You go for a flu injection, so why can’t you take the COVID-19 vaccine? The vaccine is here to protect us. I didn’t sleep too much, I was excited.”

Bellville resident, Ernest Adonis, 78, described the vaccination as “something good,” after receiving his jab.“It was good for me. I think the vaccine will be good for our people, it’s like the flu vaccine. I advise every elderly person to get vaccinated.”

Registering to receive the vaccine is easy

  • Western Cape Government Health encourages all persons 60 years and older to register on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS).
  • Dial *134*832# from your phone to start the registration process OR
  • Send the word “REGISTER” to 0600 123 456 on WhatsApp OR
  • visit http://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za

The public is urged to only visit vaccination facilities once their appointments have been confirmed. This will ensure that everyone is assisted and gets vaccinated.

Elderly Covid-19 vaccine
Jean Arnold wants to stay safe and decided to get her jab
Retired nurse becomes first recipient of Covid-19 vaccine
Retired nurse Mara Majiedt was vaccinated in Brackenfell
Vaccines for the elderly
Bellville resident Ernest Adonis says he felt “good” after getting vaccinated