Chaos at Joburg Hospital vaccination site

13 May 2021

I am concerned at the chaos at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital vaccination site as health workers are turned away despite being notified that they are due to receive the J&J vaccine for Covid-19.

Early this week the SA Medical Research Council stated that “due to high demand at many sites we can only accept health workers and personnel with vouchers.”

But many health workers have arrived with vouchers and are told to come back, and then another excuse is given for why they cannot get the vaccination.

The Sisonke J&J trial is due to end soon as the general rollout for people over 60 years old is supposed to start next week.

It is essential that the vaccination programme is properly organised, with measures to ensure that nobody jumps the queue.

The appointment system for vaccines should be efficient and fair, with a minimum of waiting times especially for old people in this cold weather.

We need to do everything we can to ensure a speedy vaccine rollout to save lives as the epidemic appears headed for a third wave of infections.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, 13 May 2021