Cape Town - Authorities have appealed to residents, who are up in arms over a shortage of vaccines for walk-ins, in the greater Oudtshoorn sub-district, to be patient.
Greater Oudtshoorn mayor Chris Macpherson said he had received complaints from the public that many people who turned up at the vaccination site on Monday, could not be vaccinated, due to a shortage of vaccines.
Macpherson said he had inquired with the Health Department and appealed for people to be patient.
“I enquired with the Department of Health about the shortages of vaccines, and they told me that even though walk-ins (people that go to the vaccination site without getting the SMS) are allowed, only a limited number of vaccines are available on a day,” he said.
Community activist Anthony Ewerts said people were visiting the sites early in the morning and it was “disappointing“ that they were sent back without getting a vaccine.
“The Department of Health must provide the vaccines to all respective districts. People are visiting the sites early in the morning and walk from far, therefore, it's disappointing to arrive and be sent back without getting the vaccine.
“I also want to ask when farmworkers and their families will get the vaccine. All you see in this programme is towns, and there is nothing said about the rural areas,“ Ewerts said.
Spokesperson for provincial Department of Health in the Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts, Nadia Ferreira said they were aware of the complaints.
“We are aware of complaints received from the Oudtshoorn sub-district, regarding the limited number of walk-ins that the site can accommodate.
“We are currently prioritising those people over 60 years of age, who are coming for their first and second doses, and then those above the age of 50 years with appointments, and then walk-in clients,” Ferreira said.
Premier Alan Winde has urged eligible residents, who have not registered for the Covid-19 vaccine, to do so on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS).
“Doing so will ensure that you receive your appointment date and time. The EVDS is currently open to those who are over 50 and over 60 years old, and will open up to those who are between 35-49 years on July 15,” said Winde.
As of midday on Wednesday, the province recorded a total of 355 298 Covid-19 cases and 30 965 active infections.
There have been 13 530 deaths.
By 5pm on Monday, the province had administered a cumulative total of 647 115 vaccines to health care workers, staff in the education sector, and those who are in the over 50 and over 60 age brackets.
Cape Times