Despite a number of hiccups, South Africa has put a valiant effort into upscaling its COVID-19 vaccine drive and now, citizens as young as 35 can register to get inoculated.
Recently, the South African Health Products Regulatory Association (SAHPRA) approved the CoronoVac vaccine produced by China after much contention.
This brings the total number of vaccine candidates available in South Africa to three. However, at this time, no confirmation has been made on an existing procurement deal between the SA government and CoronoVac.
So, for now, at least, citizens will either be jabbed with a single-dose Johnson & Johnson (J&J) shot or the two-dose Pfizer.
If you are at least 35 years old, then you will be able to register for the COVID-19 vaccine from Thursday 15 July 2021.
Register for COVID-19 vaccine: What is the process?
Registering to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is a six-step process and there are a number of ways to send in your application.
Register via EVDS system
The Electronic Vaccination System (EVDS) system is an online platform where citizens can enter their personal information to secure an inoculation appointment. This method is more suitable for people with a decent internet connection and intermediate computer literacy.
The process requires you to enter your ID number, personal and contact information. The on-screen prompts will guide users on the instructions to follow to complete the registration process.
The USSD method
This method is straightforward and accommodates those without access to the internet or a computer. Citizens are simply required to *134*832*IDNumber# and an SMS will be sent confirming the registration. Those without a valid ID number are required to register using *132*832# and follow the on-screen prompts.
Dial a free hotline
Qualifying registrants can also submit their application via a toll-free hotline. Simply dial 0800 029 999 between 08:00 and 18:00 on any day of the week and submit your personal information.
Register for COVID-19 vaccine via WhatsApp
If you have mobile data to spare, you can also register for the COVID-19 vaccine using WhatsApp. Simply save the number 0600 012 3456, send the message ‘REGISTER‘ on the texting app and follow the on-screen prompts.
Regardless of how you register, once you’ve filed your information with the Department of Health, you will receive an SMS confirming your registration.
How to book your COVID-19 vaccine appointment
This part of the process is only applicable to citizens who:
- qualify to get vaccinated; and
- received an SMS from the Department of Health confirming their registration.
When it’s your age group’s turn to get a jab, the department will send out SMSs containing information on when and where you can go to get vaccinated.
Missed appointments, for whatever reason, can be rescheduled based on the availability of stock. While it is not encouraged, citizens can also approach a public and/or private vaccination site without an appointment.
The government has struck a deal with private vaccine sites to handle the costs for walk-ins who get inoculated without a valid medical aid.
Find a vaccination site in your area
According to information listed on the government’s website, there are more than 570 active vaccination sites in South Africa.
The appointment SMS you receive when it’s your age group’s turn should contain relevant information on where you are scheduled to receive the jab. However, should, for any reason, you need to find alternative sites, simply search on this page and filter the table by the province you reside in.
At the time this article was published, South Africa had vaccinated 4 535 222 citizens.