Week Four: Western Cape to open ICC as mega site; FNB urges customers to get the jab

The Western Cape has declared that it has officially entered the third wave of Covid-19 infections, according to both Premier Alan Winde and provincial health department head Dr Keith Cloete, on Thursday, 10 June. 

They announced that the Cape Town International Convention Centre (ICC) will be opened as a mass vaccination site. The centre was transformed into a Covid-19 field hospital previously in May 2020. The site will be able to administer 5,000 doses daily once it becomes active in a few weeks’ time. Read this report by Suné Payne.

In the Northern Cape, some elderly residents of Upington are missing vaccination appointments because travelling to the sole vaccination site by taxi is too expensive. More than 10,000 people have received their first Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine dose. Read this report by Selby Nomnganga.

Meanwhile, Cabinet has “welcomed” the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) validation of the Sinovac vaccine for emergency Covid use. Earlier this week, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority chairperson Professor Helen Rees said the regulator was reviewing the Sinovac vaccine. The regulator now has the same dossier of data as the WHO and that will quicken the process, she explained.

FNB and its partner Clicks have encouraged those over 60 years old to register for the vaccine. FNB said Clicks has started vaccinations at 51 sites across the country. The pharmacy chain requires proof of registration and medical aid details from customers before vaccination can go ahead.  

The bank has committed its 600 branches to helping customers to register for the vaccine. They need to bring ID and a proof of address to register, using the bank’s mobile devices usually reserved for banking services. DM/MC