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"contents": "<b>Feature image:</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> MC-WeeklyDigest-28May:</span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compilation image by Sahra Heuwel.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Second week of vaccinations: A day-by-day account</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This week, South Africa administered 181,118 doses of the double-shot Pfizer vaccine bringing the total to 348,204 by the morning of 28 May. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To see what happened on each day this week, read more below: </span>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-24-day-six-more-sites-added-as-roll-out-enters-second-week/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Day Six: More sites added as roll-out enters second week</span></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-25-day-seven-tito-mboweni-vaccinated-dis-chem-opens-another-five-mass-vaccination-sites/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Day Seven: Tito Mboweni vaccinated, Dis-chem opens another five mass vaccination sites</span></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-26-day-eight-provincial-daily-tallies-published-and-hackers-meddle-with-the-registration-site/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Day Eight: Provincial daily tallies published – and hackers meddle with the registration site</span></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-27-day-9-western-cape-allows-walk-ins-while-mediclinic-waits-for-its-first-vaccine-delivery/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Day 9: Western Cape allows walk-ins while Mediclinic waits for its first vaccine delivery</span></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-26-the-sisonke-trial-rewrote-history-eight-lessons-for-the-nationwide-vaccine-roll-out/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more: The Sisonke trial rewrote history: Eight lessons for the nationwide vaccine roll-out</span></i></a>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-930356\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Vax-Day8.jpg\" alt=\"vaccination\" width=\"1839\" height=\"1041\" /> Elderly people wait for vaccinations at Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein on 24 May 2021. (Photo: Gallo Images / Volksblad / Mlungisi Louw)</p>\r\n\r\n<b>‘Dishonest people are spoiling a good system’: How the public tried to hack the EVDS</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa’s Electronic Vaccination Data System has not failed, but it has been abused by members of the public. People under 60 years old have been misrepresenting themselves as healthcare workers on the system in order to get an appointment and receive a vaccine dose before they are eligible, according to Dr Nicholas Crisp who leads the team in charge of the system. As a result, the healthcare worker section of the portal has been shut down. Read the report by Estelle Ellis </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-25-vaccine-cheats-the-evds-has-not-failed-the-public-has-broken-the-system/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-920556\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/fdhelen3.jpg\" alt=\"vaccine cheats\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1056\" /> Health workers queue for vaccines at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla / Daliy Maverick)</p>\r\n\r\n<b>J&J vaccines still in Gqeberha plant</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than 31 million doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine remain at Aspen Pharmacare’s Gqeberha plant. The </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">US Food and Drug Administration is yet to release a safety audit — done at all manufacturers of the vaccine around the world — which is a requirement before these vaccine doses can be released. Read the report by Estelle Ellis </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-24-information-shutdown-why-are-the-jj-vaccines-not-being-released-from-aspens-plant-in-gqeberha/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-928153\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/FDA-Estelle.jpg\" alt=\"J&J vaccines\" width=\"1880\" height=\"1058\" /> Vials are lined up for filling at the Aspen plant. (Picture: Aspen Pharmacare)</p>\r\n\r\n<b>Storage conditions changed for Pfizer vaccine</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has followed its international counterparts in approving a change to the storage conditions of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine. The vaccine can now be stored in a fridge for a month. Read more about how this could benefit the country’s rollout </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-24-good-news-sa-can-now-keep-pfizer-shots-in-a-bar-fridge-for-a-month/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-27-help-to-make-covid-19-vaccines-safer-report-any-vaccine-related-adverse-events-no-matter-how-mild/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more: Help to make Covid-19 vaccines safe – Report any vaccine-related adverse events no matter how mild</span></i></a>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-816045\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Grootes-vaccine-transparency-option-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1083\" /> The new storage rules for the Pfizer vaccine could help South Africa administer the jabs faster, save costs and avoid waste. (Photo: EPA-EFE/NEIL HALL)</p>\r\n\r\n<b>Department of Health’s irregular R150m Digital Vibes deal</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This week, minister of health Zweli Mkhize said the department’s R150-million deal with Digital Vibes was irregular. </span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scorpio</span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> first revealed this in February 2021 and has been digging ever since. Read the full investigation by Pieter-Louis Myburgh </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-26-department-of-healths-irregular-r150m-digital-vibes-deal-daily-mavericks-investigative-work-so-far-in-one-bundle/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-28-digital-vibes-the-real-tragedy-is-they-chowed-the-money-that-could-have-been-used-to-save-lives/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more: Digital Vibes – The real tragedy is they chowed the money that could have been used to save lives</span></i></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-27-how-south-africa-dropped-the-ball-on-health-communication/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more: How South Africa dropped the ball on health communication</span></i></a>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-856616\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/PLM-comms-tenders-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1280\" /> Zweli Mkhize, Tahera Mather, Naadhira Mitha, 26 March 2019. (Photo: Facebook) / Health Minister Zeli Mkhize.</p>\r\n\r\n<b>SIU freezes bank accounts and assets of decontamination companies</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Special Investigating Unit has frozen the bank accounts and assets of 14 companies for rendering unnecessary decontamination services to the Gauteng Department of Education. This follows an </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-01-26-gauteng-department-of-education-spent-r431-million-in-three-months-on-unnecessary-deep-cleaning-and-decontamination-of-schools/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">investigation</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by </span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maverick Citizen</span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in January 2021. The investigation is still underway, but there was enough evidence of irregularity to warrant the freeze. Read the report by Victoria O’Regan </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-27-gauteng-school-decontamination-scandal-siu-to-freeze-r40-7m-worth-of-assets-of-14-firms/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>International Olympic Committee donates vaccines to SA Olympians</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa’s Olympians have been receiving their dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine since 21 May. The doses were donated by the International Olympic Committee and the vaccination is recommended but voluntary. The vaccine is available to athletes as well as the Team South Africa members going to Japan. Read the report by Yanga Sibembe </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-27-south-african-athletes-receive-vaccines-sascoc-announces-initial-olympic-team/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. </span><b>DM/MC.</b>",
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"description": "<b>Feature image:</b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> MC-WeeklyDigest-28May:</span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compilation image by Sahra Heuwel.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Second week of vaccinations: A day-by-day account</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This week, South Africa administered 181,118 doses of the double-shot Pfizer vaccine bringing the total to 348,204 by the morning of 28 May. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To see what happened on each day this week, read more below: </span>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-24-day-six-more-sites-added-as-roll-out-enters-second-week/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Day Six: More sites added as roll-out enters second week</span></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-25-day-seven-tito-mboweni-vaccinated-dis-chem-opens-another-five-mass-vaccination-sites/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Day Seven: Tito Mboweni vaccinated, Dis-chem opens another five mass vaccination sites</span></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-26-day-eight-provincial-daily-tallies-published-and-hackers-meddle-with-the-registration-site/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Day Eight: Provincial daily tallies published – and hackers meddle with the registration site</span></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-27-day-9-western-cape-allows-walk-ins-while-mediclinic-waits-for-its-first-vaccine-delivery/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Day 9: Western Cape allows walk-ins while Mediclinic waits for its first vaccine delivery</span></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-26-the-sisonke-trial-rewrote-history-eight-lessons-for-the-nationwide-vaccine-roll-out/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more: The Sisonke trial rewrote history: Eight lessons for the nationwide vaccine roll-out</span></i></a>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_930356\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1839\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-930356\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Vax-Day8.jpg\" alt=\"vaccination\" width=\"1839\" height=\"1041\" /> Elderly people wait for vaccinations at Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein on 24 May 2021. (Photo: Gallo Images / Volksblad / Mlungisi Louw)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<b>‘Dishonest people are spoiling a good system’: How the public tried to hack the EVDS</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa’s Electronic Vaccination Data System has not failed, but it has been abused by members of the public. People under 60 years old have been misrepresenting themselves as healthcare workers on the system in order to get an appointment and receive a vaccine dose before they are eligible, according to Dr Nicholas Crisp who leads the team in charge of the system. As a result, the healthcare worker section of the portal has been shut down. Read the report by Estelle Ellis </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-25-vaccine-cheats-the-evds-has-not-failed-the-public-has-broken-the-system/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_920556\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2000\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-920556\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/fdhelen3.jpg\" alt=\"vaccine cheats\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1056\" /> Health workers queue for vaccines at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla / Daliy Maverick)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<b>J&J vaccines still in Gqeberha plant</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than 31 million doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine remain at Aspen Pharmacare’s Gqeberha plant. The </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">US Food and Drug Administration is yet to release a safety audit — done at all manufacturers of the vaccine around the world — which is a requirement before these vaccine doses can be released. Read the report by Estelle Ellis </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-24-information-shutdown-why-are-the-jj-vaccines-not-being-released-from-aspens-plant-in-gqeberha/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_928153\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1880\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-928153\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/FDA-Estelle.jpg\" alt=\"J&J vaccines\" width=\"1880\" height=\"1058\" /> Vials are lined up for filling at the Aspen plant. (Picture: Aspen Pharmacare)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<b>Storage conditions changed for Pfizer vaccine</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has followed its international counterparts in approving a change to the storage conditions of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine. The vaccine can now be stored in a fridge for a month. Read more about how this could benefit the country’s rollout </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-24-good-news-sa-can-now-keep-pfizer-shots-in-a-bar-fridge-for-a-month/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-27-help-to-make-covid-19-vaccines-safer-report-any-vaccine-related-adverse-events-no-matter-how-mild/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more: Help to make Covid-19 vaccines safe – Report any vaccine-related adverse events no matter how mild</span></i></a>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_816045\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2000\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-816045\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Grootes-vaccine-transparency-option-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1083\" /> The new storage rules for the Pfizer vaccine could help South Africa administer the jabs faster, save costs and avoid waste. (Photo: EPA-EFE/NEIL HALL)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<b>Department of Health’s irregular R150m Digital Vibes deal</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This week, minister of health Zweli Mkhize said the department’s R150-million deal with Digital Vibes was irregular. </span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scorpio</span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> first revealed this in February 2021 and has been digging ever since. Read the full investigation by Pieter-Louis Myburgh </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-26-department-of-healths-irregular-r150m-digital-vibes-deal-daily-mavericks-investigative-work-so-far-in-one-bundle/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-28-digital-vibes-the-real-tragedy-is-they-chowed-the-money-that-could-have-been-used-to-save-lives/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more: Digital Vibes – The real tragedy is they chowed the money that could have been used to save lives</span></i></a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-27-how-south-africa-dropped-the-ball-on-health-communication/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more: How South Africa dropped the ball on health communication</span></i></a>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_856616\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-856616\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/PLM-comms-tenders-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1280\" /> Zweli Mkhize, Tahera Mather, Naadhira Mitha, 26 March 2019. (Photo: Facebook) / Health Minister Zeli Mkhize.[/caption]\r\n\r\n<b>SIU freezes bank accounts and assets of decontamination companies</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Special Investigating Unit has frozen the bank accounts and assets of 14 companies for rendering unnecessary decontamination services to the Gauteng Department of Education. This follows an </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-01-26-gauteng-department-of-education-spent-r431-million-in-three-months-on-unnecessary-deep-cleaning-and-decontamination-of-schools/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">investigation</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by </span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maverick Citizen</span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in January 2021. The investigation is still underway, but there was enough evidence of irregularity to warrant the freeze. Read the report by Victoria O’Regan </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-27-gauteng-school-decontamination-scandal-siu-to-freeze-r40-7m-worth-of-assets-of-14-firms/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>International Olympic Committee donates vaccines to SA Olympians</b>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Africa’s Olympians have been receiving their dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine since 21 May. The doses were donated by the International Olympic Committee and the vaccination is recommended but voluntary. The vaccine is available to athletes as well as the Team South Africa members going to Japan. Read the report by Yanga Sibembe </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-27-south-african-athletes-receive-vaccines-sascoc-announces-initial-olympic-team/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. </span><b>DM/MC.</b>",
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Elderly people wait for vaccinations at Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein on 24 May 2021. (Photo: Gallo Images / Volksblad / Mlungisi Louw)
Health workers queue for vaccines at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla / Daliy Maverick)
Vials are lined up for filling at the Aspen plant. (Picture: Aspen Pharmacare)
The new storage rules for the Pfizer vaccine could help South Africa administer the jabs faster, save costs and avoid waste. (Photo: EPA-EFE/NEIL HALL)
Zweli Mkhize, Tahera Mather, Naadhira Mitha, 26 March 2019. (Photo: Facebook) / Health Minister Zeli Mkhize.