KZN Ready to Rollout COVID-19 Vaccine

By: Bongani Gina & Mfundo Mabaso

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala says the COVID-19 vaccine will arrive in the province around 14 February.

He has been briefing media, in Durban, giving an update on the province’s COVID-19 situation and also outlining plans for the rollout of the vaccine.

Zikalala says a vaccination rollout committee has been established, and will be chaired by provincial Health HOD Sandile Tshabalala.

“The Provincial Vaccine Coordinating Committee, Chaired by the HOD for the Department of Health, which includes Unions, NGO’s, Traditional Healers, Academic sector, Civil Society, and Military Health Care services, has also been established to fast-track implementation,” says Zikalala

All District Command Councils, led by MEC’s and Mayors will spend time in districts for the duration of the roll-out and ensure daily accountability and hands on support.

He adds that  in t his province 163 266 health care workers are eligible to be vaccinated on the first phase of the vaccination rollout.

The provincial first beneficiaries are targeted as follows:

• Public sector health care staff: 67644
• Medical doctors, dentists, pharmacists, Emergency Medical Services: 9292
• Interns: 390
• Nurses: 34 279
• Non-OSD staff: 20 417
• Allied health professional: 2639
• Engineers/artisans: 366
• Staff providing social services: 256
• Privately contracted staff working in public sector: 14625
• Traditional healers: 5939
• Military health care staff: 350
• NGO sector staff: 6699
• Environmental Health Practitioners: 360

The District Breakdown is as follows: