Teachers in the Western Cape will start receiving their Covid-19 vaccinations from tomorrow, 23 June. 29 vaccination sites around the province have been earmarked.

The National Department of Education has has indicated that the Western Cape will receive approximately 55 200 vaccines.

The Head of Department, Brent Walters wrote to schools yesterday updating them on the planned rollout.

Given that public schools have already registered the staff members who have consented to the vaccine, the majority of the work to prepare for this rollout has been concluded.

However, teachers and staff that have not yet registered must contact their principal to get their details and consent submitted.

The WCED will liaise with independent schools to conclude arrangements for their vaccination process.

As indicated by DBE, the following persons do not qualify to be vaccinated:

• any person who has contracted COVID-19 in the past 30 days;
• any person who has been vaccinated using another vaccine (Pfizer or J&J, under Sisonke); or
• any person who has received a flu vaccine in the past 14 days.

Schools are to still register the details of those staff members who are unable to attend due to having contracted COVID-19 in the past 30 days or having recently received the flu vaccine, as they will have the opportunity to be vaccinated until 08 July 2021.

Any official who is not vaccinated by 08 July 2021 will become part of the normal sequence of vaccinations (age focused) as announced by the National Department of Health.

District offices will contact schools this week, informing them of their school’s vaccination schedule.