BL Premium reports that the Western Cape government estimates that 100,000 healthcare workers will need to be immunised during the first phase of its Covid-19 vaccination rollout, which is expected to get under way within a matter of weeks.  

Health minister Zweli Mkhize announced last week that the national government had secured 1.5-million AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines from the Serum Institute of India, earmarked for health-care workers.  Two-thirds are due to arrive in SA later this month, and the final third in February.  Each province is expected to devise its own vaccination plan.  Western Cape head of health Keith Cloete outlined the provincial government’s plan, which includes setting up an electronic registry of people to be vaccinated.  Cloete said vaccination would be voluntary.  "Each person will get an appointment, sign a consent form, get their first dose and appointment for their second dose, and proof of vaccination will be issued," he indicated.  Western Cape premier Alan Winde, who said last week that he would seek to procure additional Covid-19 vaccines independently of the national government’s efforts, said he had not yet had any success.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (paywall access only)

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