The Department of Health has made adjustments to its COVID-19 inoculation rulebook and now, non-medical aid holders can get vaccinated at private sites.
What you need to get vaccinated at private sites
As reported by Bhekisisa.org, in a bid to keep the momentum of the vaccination drive alive, the government has entered into an agreement with private vaccine sites to accept non-medical aid walk-ins.
Previously, clients who walked in to jab centres without an appointment or a valid medical aid card with funds were either told to pay a fee or were turned away.
However, the health department has vowed to reimburse the full cost of uninsured clients who walk into private sites to get vaccinated.
Still, the process is not so cut-and-dry. Here are a few things you need to know:
- You must be registered on the EVDS system in order to receive a vaccine shot. If, for some reason, you are not registered and are eligible, admin staff will process your EVDS registration.
- It is the sole discretion of the private and/or public vaccine site to accept walk-ins.
- Appointment clients will be given priority over walk-ins. This is to ensure that enough vaccine stock has been properly allocated.
- There is no guarantee that walks-ins will be vaccinated on the day they show up.
- Walk-ins are placed on a separate queue at vaccine sites.
Who can get the jab?
Thus far, more than 3.8 million South Africans have received a COVID-19 vaccine. The true representation of this figure remains unknown since the country uses a mixture of single and double-dose jabs.
Currently, citizens aged 50 and above are eligible to receive a vaccine. Moreover, public sector essential workers in correctional services, defence, social development, home affairs, justice and the national prosecuting authority are also in line to receive a jab.
In the coming weeks, citizens aged between 40 and 49 will be allowed to register on the EVDS system.