W Cape on track for 2 million vaccinations this week

THE Western Cape Provincial Health Department could reach two million vaccinations today, provincial health department spokesperson Mark van der Heever has said.

He said the death toll had surpassed 18 000.

From August 23 to 27, the department administered 248 334 Covid-19 vaccines.

As at 1pm yesterday, 1 893 394 vaccinations had been administered.

As at August 27, 782 605 vaccinations had been administered to people older than 60, of whom 359 424 had been fully vaccinated.

In the 50 to 59 age group, 305 431 people had been vaccinated, of whom 139 080 had been fully vaccinated.

In the 35 to 49 age group, 414 394 people had been vaccinated, of whom 155 032 people had been been fully vaccinated.

In the 18 years and older age group, 113 394 people had been vaccinated,

of whom 71 018 had been fully vaccinated.

According to the Western Cape government’s Covid-19 Dashboard, as at 1pm yesterday, the province reported 37 689 active infections, 491 032 confirmed cases, and 435 156 recoveries. To date, about 18 187 people had died.

Tygerberg Hospital’s infectious diseases physician Dr Jantjie Taljaard said the vaccines were efficacious and he urged eligible people to get vaccinated.

“People with a chronic medical condition are at increased risk of contracting severe Covid-19 and then landing up in hospital, ICU, or even dying.

“The main benefit of the Covid-19 vaccination is it prevents severe Covid19, hospitalisation and death, specifically in these people with increased risk of severe disease.

“What we have seen is that Covid19 vaccines save lives. In Tygerberg Hospital’s intensive care unit during the third wave, all the people admitted were not vaccinated. Please save your own life and get the jab. I did.”