Stellenbosch University (SU) recently opened a Covid-19 vaccination site for SU staff and members of the public.
This was according to a media release by SU on 4 August. The vaccination site, which opened on 10 August, is providing vaccinations for members of the community who are eligible and registered on the South African vaccination portal. The site is in the Lentelus clubhouse at SU’s soccer complex in Hammanshand Road, according to the media release.
Stellenbosch University (SU) launched a Covid-19 vaccination site for registered members of the Stellenbosch community on 10 August, according to SU’s media release. Chris Jurgens, lecturer of civil engineering at SU, was vaccinated by nurse Ronita February on the site’s launch day. PHOTO: Kirsty Bucholz
“Our aim is to start administering at least 50 vaccinations a day [at the SU vaccination site]. If we can get to 400 a day, that will be great,” said Dr Pierre Viviers, senior director of SU’s campus health services, in the media release.
The vaccination site has begun administering Pfizer vaccines, according to the media release. Staff members, and members of their family, who are aged 35 and above are currently given preference to receive both doses of the vaccine at the site, said Viviers.
“[The SU vaccination site] will benefit other educational institutions, and the local community too…as well as our younger staff members and students, once they are eligible to register for the vaccine,” said Prof Nico Koopman, deputy vice-chancellor of social impact, transformation and personnel at SU.
Dr Lené Ehlers, lecturer at the department of business management at Stellenbosch University, was among those first in line to receive their vaccination at the new site. PHOTO: sourced/Facebook
Boosting the roll-out
Vaccination sites that are located outside healthcare facilities are provided with vaccines by healthcare facilities in the same area, according to Sandra Maritz, Cape Winelands District communications officer for the Western Cape Health Department (WCHD).
“In the case of the facility at SU, it is linked to Stellenbosch [Provincial] Hospital,” Maritz said.
It was stated in the SU media release that Pfizer vaccines will be allocated to the site through the WCHD, according to availability.
The new vaccination site is in the Lentelus clubhouse at Stellenbosch University’s soccer complex in Hammanshand Road, Stellenbosch. Pictured above is the waiting area, where people are monitored for a few minutes after being vaccinated. PHOTO: Kirsty Bucholz
“Up to now the demand for vaccines has been higher than the available vaccine supply, and what public and private sites could offer throughout the province,” said Maritz.
The roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines is a collective effort between public and private facilities, according to Maritz. There are quite a few instances of partnerships like that between Stellenbosch Hospital and SU in the Western Cape, she added.
“The goal is to give as many people access to the vaccine as quickly as possible,” explained Maritz.
The new vaccination site has increased access to vaccinations for SU staff members and the greater Stellenbosch community, according to Viviers. This is expected to relieve pressure on hospitals and clinics in the area, he added.
“The more people who are vaccinated, the slower Covid-19 will spread in the community. We greatly value this partnership,” said Maritz.
By increasing access to vaccinations for the Stellenbosch community, the new Stellenbosch University vaccination site is expected to relieve pressure on hospitals and clinics in the area, according to Dr Pierre Viviers, senior director of SU’s campus health services. PHOTO: Kirsty Bucholz