READY TO ROLL
THE CTICC mass vaccination site, dubbed the Centre of Hope, will open its doors to the public today, and should have administered 750 000 vaccinations by December, says Premier Alan Winde.
Winde was speaking at a news conference after an oversight visit to the centre with mayor Dan Plato and Discovery Health chief executive Ryan Noach.
The centre is the product of a public-private partnership between the province, the City and Discovery Health.
Winde said the centre would be one of the biggest vaccination sites in the country. He said 50 stations would be operational at the site, with the related administrative and support staff in place to support operations.
Speaking about some of the other mass sites across the province and in the metro, Winde said: “We have a private mega site in the N1 region, which is Momentum Metropolitan’s Parc du Cap, the one with Netcare and Old Mutual in Pinelands, there is this one, the CTICC, in the middle of the city, and the one coming to Athlone stadium at the end of the month.
“Athlone for me is very exciting because it is not only going to be similar to the CTICC as far as walkins are concerned, it will also enable drive-throughs.”
Plato said the City was working hard to get Athlone stadium ready by the end of this month.
“It is hoped this facility will be part of the decentralisation of the vaccinations, and there will be more facilities open on the Cape Flats, where the majority of our people live.”
Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo said: “There are 290 planned sites for the province as a whole, with 83 planned for the metro. Ideally we don’t want people to have to travel too far to receive their vaccinations.
“All eligible residents, whether they have medical aid or not, will be assisted at this site. No person will be left behind, because every life matters.”
Head of Health Dr Keith Cloete said the CTICC operation would cost R15 million besides the hiring costs of the venue.
“We still allow walk-ins at each of our sites, depending on the capacity, number of vaccines available at the site, and number of people being served.”