Cape Town - With only 56.2% of the Western Cape adult population vaccinated against Covid-19 and flu season around the corner, City clinics will be offering flu shots and Covid-19 vaccines simultaneously to the elderly and other vulnerable people who may be at risk of developing severe disease.
The City plans to begin this double-jab exercise as soon as its clinics have stock of flu vaccinations and has said the jabs will be offered to all residents older than 65.
Mayco member for community services and health Patricia van der Ross said: “Flu vaccines are an additional health measure offered by City clinics free of charge.
“In addition, you can receive your flu shot and Covid-19 vaccine on the same day as there is no waiting period between the administration of the two.”
Van der Ross said the City was also targeting those with cardiovascular disease, which includes chronic heart disease, hypertension, stroke and diabetes. People with chronic lung diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and tuberculosis, as well as people living with HIV/Aids and pregnant women, are also part of the target group.
“Children aged six months to 18 years on long-term aspirin therapy are prioritised for the flu vaccines, while children between the ages of 12 and 17 are also eligible for the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.”
Meanwhile, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases will later today release its latest epidemiological report, which summarises data from a national laboratory-based surveillance system used to monitor the Covid-19 pandemic.
In their last report they said that in the previous six weeks, the Western Cape reported the highest weekly incidence risk, 31.2 cases per 100 000 people.
This was followed by Gauteng with 19 cases per 100000, and KwaZulu-Natal with 13.2 cases per 100 000. The other provinces reported weekly incidence below nine cases per 100000
The highest weekly incidence risk among cases detected in the previous report across the country was in the 80-plus year age group with 25.5 cases per 100 000 people and the lowest weekly incidence risk was in the 5 to 9 years age group with 4.1 cases per 100 000.
mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za