Minister Phaahla’s top priority in office should be ramping up vaccinations

12 August 2021

Newly appointed Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, should be prioritising – with urgency – ramping up the vaccination rollout programme in his first weeks in office. Dr Phaahla’s markers of success in this role will hinge on how South Africa turns around the poor vaccination rollout to reach as many people as possible.

As a result, I will be writing to the Minister to submit a number of proposals on how this can be achieved in line with our commitment to be part of the solution during this global health crisis.

Over the past several weeks, it has been reported that the country averages 46 000 vaccinations a day including on weekends. Furthermore, in the last couple of days, the country has fallen short of the 200 000 vaccinations per day without any explanation for this poor performance.

There are key priorities that the new minister should focus on in the regard:

Open registration and vaccination to all age groups and those who are interested in receiving inoculation. While priority should be given to those who are most at risk, there is absolutely no reason why vaccination sites should be standing vacant while only 10% of South Africans are vaccinated;

There should be accentuated public/ private partnerships in order to target – on mass – employees in certain industries in a similar way that teachers, those in correctional facilities and old age homes were targeted. It is absolutely crucial to reach people where they are. Many people are not able to take time off work to go get their vaccines at certain sites;

There needs to be a consistent and increased supply of vaccine stock in order to ensure that those who require second doses are able to access it while efforts are being made to provide vaccines to everyone else across the board;

Government communication has been found wanting and completely behind when it comes to combating misinformation about the vaccine. Without an aggressive communication strategy that guides people where they should go to access the service and the wholesale benefits of vaccinations, provinces will never meet their targets of the people that need to be reached;

Linked to the communications strategy is a community outreach strategy that reaches people where they are. Community organisations such as churches, transport hubs, gyms and shopping centers can be key points of contact for many people.

The longer the Department of Health continues with its sluggish approach to vaccinations, the more vulnerable people are to this pandemic and the longer the country remains locked down, confining many to poverty and unemployment.

Minister Phaahla and his team need to jack up their systems urgently. This is the first order of business in his new role.

Issued by Siviwe Gwarube, DA Shadow Minister of Health, 12 August 2021