South Africa will resume roll-out of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine on Wednesday, 28 April, in a push to vaccinate 500 000 healthcare workers through the Sisonke Programme.
Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said this move comes after the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) recommendation and cabinet’s concurrence. “We are looking forward to making up for the lost time by completing this programme in the shortest possible time.” Vaccination sites will now be extended to 95, across the country, and these sites will continue to vaccinate healthcare workers during phase one beyond the Sisonke Protocol. According to Mkhize, government remains committed to inoculate 1.2 million frontline workers under the first phase, which is expected to be wrapped up on 16 May. KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala and Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu, said Phase 1(b) of the vaccine roll-out will commence on 1 May and end on 16 May. Zikalala said since Phase 1 (a) of the vaccination process began on 18 February, and until its voluntary suspension on 12 April, KZN had vaccinated a total of 51 615 healthcare workers at 91 sites throughout the province. This was made up of 37 457 healthcare workers from the public sector, and the remaining 14 158 from the private sector.
“As part of Phase 1(b), if the adequate number of vaccines is received, to vaccinate the remaining 81 232 public healthcare workers over seven days, we could meet a provincial daily target of 11 605 workers. Vaccination for Phase 1(b) and Phase 2 will run simultaneously. For instance, we will be vaccinating essential workers aged 40 years and above, at the same time as we vaccinate people in congregant settings, and those with co-morbidities, who are aged 18 years and above.” An incremental approach will be used when dealing with Phases 2 and 3, with the number of vaccination sites getting increased as the programme is scaled up. Zikalala said the KZN Department of Health has already identified mass vaccination centres, throughout the province. “The Royal Showgrounds for uMgungundlovu District. For eThekwini we have so far identified Pinetown Civic Centre, King Zwelithini Sports grounds and Cato Manor Sports grounds for the south central region, hospitals and CHCs will act as primary vaccination centres while clinics and other community structures will be secondary vaccination centres. The community structures that will be utilised as vaccination centres have been mapped per district; and all information in this regard will be made available. The provincial daily target is 30 000 vaccinations, five days per week, the Phase 2 vaccination could be completed by September 2021. This will create an opportunity for us to commence Phase 3 earlier, in October 2021.” Mkhize called on healthcare workers, including traditional healers, who have not registered for vaccination to sign up online. He said the single-dose vaccine is effective, easy to use and considered safer to be vaccinated with it than not. “Let us remember that Johnson & Johnson is currently the best vaccine against the 501Y.V2 variant, which is dominant in this country.”
