Vaccinations: Western Cape approaches herd immunity among those 60 and older

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, during his digital press conference on Thursday 5 August, said the province is getting closer to achieving herd immunity among those aged 60 years and older. 

Winde said the Western Cape government looks forward to reaching its next milestone of 67% vaccinated in this age group. While this may be good news, it was also reported that the province is currently at the peak of the third wave. 

HOW MANY PEOPLE 60 YEARS AND OLDER HAVE BEEN VACCINATED? 

Of those in the 60+ age group who have registered to date, 60.1% have at least received a single dose already, and the number of those fully vaccinated is starting to exceed those partially vaccinated, Winde said.  

Its vaccine cascade, which helps them monitor registrations and vaccinations in the Western Cape, shows them that they have registered a total of 1 235 557 people in the province, of which:

• 468 053 in the 60+ age group have registered, and 647 850 vaccines have been administered.
• 301 923 in the 50+ age group have registered, and 257 843 vaccines have been administered. A total of 84.5% of those registered have received at least one dose.
• 465 581 in the 35+ age group have registered, and 232 628 vaccines have been administered. A total of 49% of those registered have received at least one dose.

“Let’s play our part in achieving herd immunity and beating COVID-19, by ensuring that we get registered and attend our vaccination appointments,” said Winde. 

WESTERN CAPE HOSPITALS ARE UNDER PRESSURE 

While the 60+ age group may soon reach herd immunity in the Western Cape, Winde did say that the hospitals in the Western Cape are taking strain. 

Insofar as the acute service platform is concerned:

• Currently, there are 3 654 COVID-19 patients in our acute hospitals (2 021 in public hospitals and 1 633 in private hospitals). This excludes persons under investigation and cases in specialised hospital settings;
• The Metro hospitals have an average occupancy rate of 97%; George drainage area hospitals at 70%; Paarl drainage area hospitals at 81% and the Worcester drainage area hospitals at 72%;
• COVID-19 and persons under investigation cases currently make up 31% of all available acute general hospital capacity in both the metro and rural regional hospital drainage areas.
• COVID-19 intermediate care: the Brackengate Hospital of Hope currently has 295 patients with a capacity of 336 beds, Freesia and Ward 99 have 0  patients (capacity of 90 beds), Mitchells Plain Hospital of Hope has 118 patients (an additional ward had been opened) and Sonstraal currently has 64  patients. 

“This points to the Western Cape still having capacity in our intermediate and acute care wards. The critical care capacity, however, is stretched significantly at the peak but is still coping,” said Winde.