People aged 18 to 29 years old line up inside the “Biblioteca Vasconcelos” to receive their first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 in Mexico City, on August 10, 2021, as Mexico faces a third wave of contagions. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP)
City of Cape Town supports call to open vax sites to over-18s this week
Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla said his department were in discussions with cabinet and hoped to extend the national vaccine rollout to people aged 18 and older by the end of the week.
People aged 18 to 29 years old line up inside the “Biblioteca Vasconcelos” to receive their first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 in Mexico City, on August 10, 2021, as Mexico faces a third wave of contagions. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP)
The City of Cape Town said it supports the national government’s proposal to begin vaccinating people aged between 18 and 34 in mid-August instead of waiting until 1 September. This comes after Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla said his department hopes to extend the rollout to the younger age group by the end of this week, 22 August.
PLATO SUPPORTS OPENING UP VAX SITES TO ALL
Cape Town Executive Mayor Dan Plato said the available vaccine supply and the decline in the number of people aged 35 and older being vaccinated is reason enough for the vaccination rollout to be opened to a broader group of the population. Plato echoed the sentiments of Phaahla and Western Cape Premier Alan Winde.
“Vaccination uptake remains a concern as we work towards population immunity. A potential fourth wave at the end of the year would be disastrous for our communities impacted by Covid-19 as well as for our tourism sector during the summer season,” said Plato, adding that it is important that the vaccine is offered to all as soon as possible.
The Minister of Health said the department was in consultation with cabinet and would probably open up vaccinations to those 18 and older by Monday, 23 August, at the latest if it doesn’t happen this week.
The City of Cape Town opened another mass vaccination site on Monday, at the Athlone Stadium. It is the second Vaccination Centre of Hope after the CTICC centre was opened last month.
“The Athlone Stadium was chosen as it is easily accessible, via all forms of transport, to the broader Klipfontein community and serves a large majority of the uninsured population in the Cape Metro,” said the Western Cape government.
The provincial government said the fact that the stadium is well known to the Cape Town community and “resonates with the people of the Cape Flats” played a role in its selection.
“As a fully-vaccinated resident myself, I encourage all to come forward and get the jab as soon as possible, for your protection and those you love. We can beat COVID-19!” said Plato.
