Pension payout points are now being targeted in an effort to ensure that all pensioners can easily register for the Covid-19 vaccine.
Volunteers from all walks of life will be stationed around post offices and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pay points to ensure that no pensioner is left behind. The mission is to get as many over 60s as possible, to sign up for the lifesaving jab, under the second phase of the country’s vaccination roll-out programme, that is currently underway. This week, the Department of Health’s director-general, Dr Sandile Buthelezi, expressed his disappointment at the country not being close to reaching 50% of the 5.5 million people who are over 60 years old. However, one woman who is determined to change this is Jane Simmonds, who works as the research manager at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).
Simmonds said she realised that grant queues are very important in older people’s lives. “Because, where do you reach old people? They are not at work, not at old age homes, not on transport or school. They are not even going to church much these days because of Covid-19. But they are living at home and in their communities,” she said. The South African Council of Churches and United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund have also come on board and are sending volunteers to offer a helping hand by assisting pensioners with physical registration. The group will help the elderly dial the USSD number (*134*832#), which is free, and fill in their personal details or use their own cellphones to register for the elderly people who do not have mobile phones.
Montford pensioner, Jay Naidoo, said that even though he has already gotten his jab, registering at his nearest pension point would have been much easier and suitable for him. “If I had the opportunity to register at my pension payout point, I definitely would have jumped at it. I am not extremely technologically savvy so I needed assistance registering. Hence, I think that this is a great idea.” Dominique Pillay, a Westcliff resident, said that this move would prove to be highly beneficial for the elderly in the community. “As a resident who frequently sees the monthly queues at pension payout points, I think that the health department has made the perfect move by targeting these points. Not only will the elderly be able to get assistance in registering for the Covid-19 vaccine, they will be better informed by the volunteers who I am sure can answer whatever questions our seniors may have about the vaccine. This can give them peace of mind and reassure them of the vaccine’s safety.”
