The Western Cape’s Health Department closed the Athlone Vaccination Centre of Hope Drive-through on Saturday.
This was the first drive-through vaccination service in the
province since it officially opened on 3 September 2021
In a statement, the department said the Athlone Stadium
mass vaccination site was no longer maintaining the envisioned vaccination
results as the Department has made vaccinations accessible to all communities.
‘’…made vaccinations accessible to all communities by
creating pop-up vaccination sites in residential areas and to homeless clients,
home vaccinations to bedridden clients, taking the vaccine to work
environments, and schools, vaccinating at SASSA pay points, and shopping malls
and centres including the Vaxi Taxi services which are being utilized in many
other residential areas in the metro. The vaccination services have been
integrated into healthcare facilities for ease of access and can be accessed at
all community day centres and 24-hour health centres in the Klipfointein and
Mitchells Plain area. There are fixed vaccination sites in communities and
social mobilizing teams encouraging and educating people in residential areas
to get vaccinated.’’
The mass vaccination site was a contractual agreement
between the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government, and administered
close to 81 000 vaccinations since its opening.
The Drive-through had ten vaccination stations including
EVDS registration set up which accommodated all modes of transport from
vehicles, taxis, work vans, motorcycles, bicycles, mini-vans with family
bubbles to horse and cart.
“Saturday 26 March 2022 marked another important milestone
in the Western Cape Government Health’s vaccination programme as we officially
closed the Athlone Vaccination Centre of Hope. I would like to thank the staff
of the Athlone site, the role the City of Cape Town colleagues played in
assisting in getting the mass site operational and all staff in the province
for their dedication to ensuring that our citizens are vaccinated to protect
them against COVID-19,” says Dr Saadiq Kariem, Deputy General, Western Cape
Government Health.
“Since the opening of the Athlone Vaccination Centre of
Hope Walk-through on 17 August 2021 and then the Drive-through on 3 September
2022, a total of 80 649 people were vaccinated at both the Walk-through and
Drive-through combined,” added Dr Kariem.
PICTURE: WCDoHDone By: Mitchum George
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