[imagesource: Reuters]

The rollout of vaccines was supposed to kick off earlier this month with the aim to vaccinate 1,25 million healthcare workers nationwide, but we hit a snag.

The AstraZeneca vaccine earmarked to spearhead the effort failed to show optimal efficacy in preventing mild or moderate disease caused by the new 501Y.V2 variant.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize assured the public last week that the plans would remain unchanged, just with a different vaccine, the Johnson & Johnson or Pfizer/BioNTech variety.

President Cyril Ramaphosa received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination at the Khayelitsha Hospital on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.

Yes, there were memes and jokes. We like this one:

Then I skat I’m gonna finish my sleeve with a rosary and soema a rose over that sien jy.

Again sir this is a hospital. pic.twitter.com/4xuWR8aeui

— Simon (@simon_orgill) February 17, 2021

Ramaphosa wasn’t, however, the first to receive the jab in South Africa.

That honour goes to Nurse Zoliswa Gidi-Dyosi, who went straight back to work immediately afterwards, and delivered a baby.

Someone get that woman a Bell’s.

The first batch of 80 000 Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be distributed across 20 vaccination sites and administered by a team of 64 people.

The Daily Maverick compiled a list of where that would be happening:

• Eastern Cape: Livingstone and Nelson Mandela Academic hospitals;
• Free State: Pelonomi and Universitas hospitals;
• Gauteng: Chris Hani Baragwanath and Steve Biko Academic hospitals;
• KwaZulu-Natal: Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central and Prince Mshiyeni Memorial hospitals;
• Limpopo: Pietersburg and Mankweng hospitals;
• Mpumalanga: Rob Ferreira and Witbank hospitals;
• North West: Job Shimankana Tabane and Klerksdorp-Tshepong hospitals;
• Northern Cape: Robert Sobukwe Hospital;
• Western Cape: Khayelitsha District, Groote Schuur and Tygerberg hospitals.

In each of the nine provinces, the rollout plans have had to be tailored to their specific circumstances and challenges.

In the Eastern Cape, for example, which has reported high rates of infection, the three-phase plan could get complicated at the point where the rollout extends to those who are at risk and then the general populous.

The first phase, in line with the rest of the country, will prioritise around 200 000 frontline healthcare workers, including 60 000 in the public sector who work directly with patients.

The second phase will target around 1,5 million essential workers and people older than 18 with comorbidities.

The third phase will extend to the rest of the public over the age of 18.

Here’s where the problem comes in – the Eastern Cape is home to 45% of the country’s (mostly rural) communities who have to travel more than 5 kilometres to a health facility, making access to medical care and vaccinations difficult.

You can read a more detailed breakdown of the plans in place in each province here.

In the Western Cape, Dr Keith Cloete, head of the Western Cape Department of Health, says that the first phase will target around 133 000 healthcare workers in the private and public sectors, care workers, community healthcare workers, health science students, and traditional healers.

The second phase will focus on around two million essential workers, people in congregate settings, people over the age of 60, and those over 18 with comorbidities.

The third phase will roll out the vaccine to upwards of 2,9 million people over the age of 18.

So, after that initial bump in the road, we’re on our way.

[source:dailymaverick]