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Photo: Alan Winde / Twitter

Western Cape: Mass vaccination to officially start on 17 May, says Winde

The Western Cape’s mass vaccination campaign will begin on 17 May. Residents 60 and older will be first in line and are encouraged to sign up.

western cape land expropriation zimbabwe

Photo: Alan Winde / Twitter

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde announced that the province plans to launch the second phase of its vaccination programme on 17 May. The first people eligible for the jab will be residents aged 60 and older.

Winde added that the second phase launch will mark the start of the official mass vaccination campaign in the Western Cape.

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MASS VACCINATION TO START ON 17 MAY, SAYS WINDE

Speaking at his weekly COVID-19 digital press conference, Winde said more than 11 600 people in the Western Cape have died during the pandemic and “tens of thousands” have lost their jobs or struggled to secure food.

“COVID-19 has indeed taken away so much from us all and we desperately need this challenging time to finally come to an end,” said the Premier.

The second phase of the province’s vaccination will start – within 10 days – on 17 May, “thereby officially kicking off mass vaccination in the Western Cape,” said Winde.

Residents aged 60 and older will be the first to be vaccinated. The province is launching an awareness campaign  to encourage as many people as possible to sign up for the jabs. Winde, however, stressed that vaccination is completely voluntary.

“Firstly, I want to make crystal clear that no person will ever be forced to take a vaccine. This is your choice and yours only,” said Winde.

“Secondly, your questions matter to us. You deserve an answer to them, so that you can make a decision that is in your best interest, with all the facts at your disposal. It is our responsibility, as your government, to give you this information.”

The awareness campaign will seek to address the concerns of residents who are still unsure about taking the vaccine by providing them with reliable information from trusted sources – instead of social media or word of mouth.

READ: Elderly without internet urged to sign up at libraries

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE VACCINE

Elderly residents can register for vaccination by following these steps:

  • Visiting westerncape.gov.za and clicking on the registration link.
  • Entering basic details, including ID or passport number.
  • Entering a cellphone number, to which confirmation of registration and appointment details will be sent via SMS.
  • Entering a preferred time and date for vaccination.
  • Entering medical aid details, if applicable.
  • Submitting the above.

Once the above information is registered on the system residents will receive an SMS to confirm that they are registered for the vaccine.

On the day of vaccination, residents must present the SMS they received with the details of their appointment time and location alongside an identification document.

If residents are receiving a 2-jab vaccine, such as the Pfizer one, they will receive an SMS with details of their follow-up appointment date.

“If you are struggling to register, or don’t have internet access, ask a family member, friend or trusted person in your community to help you,” said Winde.

READ: Electronic vaccination data system: How to register for the vaccine