Eastern Cape Health MEC, Nomakhosazana Meth, has announced that her department has partnered with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and retail stores such as Rhino, Shoprite and Boxer Supermarkets, as well as Clicks, where the department aims at registering and simultaneously vaccinating the elderly while they are queuing to collect their social security grants.
Meth made the announcement during a media briefing to give an update on the COVID-19 vaccination programme and measures put in place to manage the emerging third wave of the virus in the province, held at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha on July 6.
“We have a partnership with the private sector called the Retail Pop Up Vaccination Programme where we will, from time to time, identify retail stores where we will go to register and vaccinate the elderly people while they are waiting to collect their social grants at these stores,” said Meth.
She said the provincial department was targeting to vaccinate 30 000 people a day through their partnership with retail outlets.
Meth personally oversaw the start of the programme at Rhino Supermarket in Mthatha on July 6, while another one was held in Lusikisiki on July 7.
In dealing with the third wave of COVID-19, Meth announced that a rapid response team with expertise in clinical care, coordination, logistics and infection prevention control had been deployed to the Nelson Mandela Bay and Sarah Baartman municipalities, as these districts were already experiencing a surge in third wave of infections.
Meth also used her briefing to confirm that walk-ins would be accepted at vaccination sites, saying no-one would be turned away.
“We have also allowed walk-ins at our vaccination sites, but because people did not register first they might experience delays, depending on the confirmed appointments on that day.
“That is not to say they will be turned away, but at the same time it does not mean walk-ins will be prioritised ahead of those who have registered,” Meth concluded.
