MyPE

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No dates yet for Covid-19 vaccine in Eastern Cape

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Dear MyPE

There is still no date set for the rollout of vaccines in the Eastern Cape, even though the first batches are set to arrive in the country on Monday.

No clarity was forthcoming from MEC of Health, Sindiswa Gomba, who could not confirm when the province will be receiving their first allocation of vaccines.

This is most concerning, considering that our province, as of yesterday, had the highest number of deaths as a result of Covid-19 at 10 379 and an alarming rate of excess deaths (in excess of 30 000) that are either directly related to the Covid-19 pandemic or as a result of an overburdened health system, caused by the virus.

Every day delayed is a day lost to the ongoing impacts of this dreaded disease.

While the provincial health department has done extensive work in planning and preparing for the first phase of the vaccine rollout, which will focus on frontline health care workers and those at highest risk, the further development of plans at district level are thwarted by a lack of information regarding which vaccines are being acquired as this will directly impact on storage protocols.

We need to establish which vaccine variant is being sourced, what quantities are being allocated to the province and when these will arrive.

I will write to Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, to urge him to provide sufficient information to the province, so that the teams at district level can ensure effective vaccine rollout preparations.

In a province that is vast and deeply rural in nature, these preparations are essential.

In a capable state, the dissemination of regular and accurate information regarding such life and death issues as comprehensive vaccination against a killer virus is not only expected; it is the norm.

We expect nothing less for the health care workers and the people of the Eastern Cape Province, who deserve a life of value.

Regards

Jane Cowley

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Port Elizabethan

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