The Dominican Grimley vaccination site officially opened its doors on Wednesday June 9 to help serve residents of Hout Bay and surrounds.
After reaching an agreement with Western Cape Education Department, the school will now be used as the main Hout Bay vaccination venue.
Provincial Health Department spokesperson, Natalie Watlington, explained that due to the school being classified as a “non-health site”, it required additional specific preparation when compared to health sites.
“Our vaccination sites will continue to prioritise booked clients, who have received their appointment SMS, but, where possible also accommodate walk-in clients who have not yet received this SMS,” she said.
However, the department cannot guarantee all that all walk-ins will be accommodated.
“On a specific day, we cannot say everybody will be helped as this is dependent on vaccine availability, hence our call to citizens to please register on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS),” Ms Watlington said.
The health department has continued its strategy of scaling up the number of vaccinations administered weekly, exceeding its targets when doing so.
As of May, the Health Department received a total of more than 120 000 vaccines.
Bronwen Moore, the founder and director of Hout Bay-based Community Cohesion, an NGO that works with victims of violence and crime, said the organisation was lending a helping hand through the process.
The organisation assisted with community screening and testing, as well as logistics and crowd control at these sites.
When asked about the new site, she replied: “It is brilliant. We will more than likely assist with the process.”
“The is very important for Hout Bay. If reports of the third wave are to be believed or acknowledged as a reality. It brings another layer of protection against the impact of Covid-19.”
She called on the Hout Bay community to “take advantage of this opportunity in our area” and help those who are unable to register themselves.
Ms Watlington added: “This is a major operation, and we thank our residents for their patience and understanding. We are working around the clock to ensure a positive and dignified experience.”
The department encouraged locals to wait for the second SMS, as it will enable their sites to operate more efficiently.
“These SMSes will be coming in greater numbers as all these sites come online,” Ms Watlington explained.
The Dominican Grimley vaccination site will be open till the end of the year, the health department said.
The site will be open from Monday to Friday, operating from 8am to 4pm.
Stay informed
- To confirm that you are registered on the Electronic Vaccination Database System (EVDS) or update your details. Simply go to https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za/#/, type in your details and follow the steps.
- For any questions on phase 2 registration of vaccination, please contact our Provincial Call Centre on 0860 142 142.
- The department also encourages everyone who is 60 or older to register for your vaccine. If you are not yet 60, help someone who is.
- To access the free EVDS registration service, dial *134*832# or send the word “REGISTER” to 0600 123 456 on WhatsApp OR visit http://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za or visit the website, www.westerncape.gov.za to access the link.