A number of additional clinics are now able to offer vaccinations and booster doses to residents, bringing this vital service even closer to communities.

Initially, 12 City sites administered vaccines when the rollout got under way in May 2021.

In August, City Health introduced mobile vaccination vans for use at public transport interchanges, shopping centres and other high traffic areas.

In January, four additional sites came online, with NPO, Khethimpilo hosting pop-up vaccination sites on a rotational basis at four City Community Day Centres in Mfuleni, Khayelitsha and Gordon’s Bay.

‘We are very happy to announce that many more of our clinics are starting to offer vaccinations. Some, Monday to Friday, and others one day a week. I encourage residents to visit their nearest clinic to find out if they offer vaccinations, and on which days. I am incredibly excited that City Health has been able to incrementally increase access to the public in this manner, which will hopefully increase the number of vaccinated persons in our city. We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating – the more people are vaccinated, the sooner we return to life before Covid-19,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross.

A list of City and Provincial vaccination sites is available HERE.

Recently, the National Department of Health revised the vaccination schedule as follows:

· The interval between the first and second dose of Pfizer vaccine is reduced from 42 days to 21 days. This means an individual can go for their second Pfizer vaccine after three weeks

· Pfizer booster doses can be administered three months after the second dose (previously six months)

· The Johnson & Johnson booster dose can be administered two months after the first dose

· A person who previously received a Pfizer vaccine CAN have a Johnson & Johnson booster dose (and vice versa)

‘We encourage residents to take note of the amended timelines and to please abide by it, in the interest of their own health and safety, but also those around them. I also want to encourage parents to get their teenage children vaccinated. Vaccinations for the 12 to 17 age group have been available for some time, but we need more young people to step forward. Recently, the National Health Department cited an increase in cases among children, so let’s do what we can to protect them, but also, to lead by example and make sure that our vaccinations are up to date,’ added Councillor Van der Ross.