The City has leased the stadium free of charge to the Western Cape Government, who are mandated with administering Covid-19 vaccines.The aim is for the walk-in facility to be operational in early August and the drive through facility, two weeks later.
“The drive-through facility has taken much preparation, including an intensive traffic plan to minimise long queues as far as possible. The drive-through offers an alternative vaccination option to residents. Benefits include aspects such as allowing parents to keep their young children in the car, while they are vaccinated, and will hopefully encourage those that are vaccine hesitant to consider this safe and easy alternative,”said Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato.
The drive-through will follow the same steps as a walk-through, with cars stopping at four stations, which will ensure that residents are successfully screened, registered and vaccinated. Premier Alan Winde welcomed this partnership with the City of Cape Town, which will boost access to vaccines on the Cape Flats.
“Every single person, no matter where they live, or what they earn, must have access to life-saving vaccines. I am therefore extremely excited that we will be opening a mass vaccination site in Athlone, bringing vaccines close to residents across the Metro. Like we have shown with the CTICC Vaccination Centre of Hope, and now with the Athlone Stadium mass site, we are committed to pursuing partnerships that will bring services closer to people,” said Premier Winde.
The aim is to have five lanes at the drive-through, while the walk-through facility will have 40 stations for those who are eligible to be vaccinated.”This has been a collective effort across many departments at the City and Western Cape Government. This effort is in keeping with our commitment to get as many of our residents vaccinated as possible,” said Mayor Plato.
The City is in the process of finalising plans at the stadium for, among others, connectivity, vaccine storage, health technology, social distancing protocols, furniture acquisition, disinfecting, waste management, fire and evacuation detail as well as security and events coordination.
Once these plans are final, the site will be handed over to the Western Cape Government for the operational phase. This sphere of government has the mandate and budget for overall coordination, clinical and facilities management.
“Scientific data proves that vaccines are safe and save lives, and so I urge every person to register for their vaccine when it is their turn. Vaccines remain our best tool to beat Covid-19, so that we can once again do the things we love, be with the people we love, and do the work that supports our family,”said Premier Winde.
Everyone over the age of 50 is currently eligible to register for their Covid-19 vaccine on EVDS, and is urged to do so by using any of the following steps:
· Visit http://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za/ (which can also be accessed by www.westerncape.gov.za)
· WhatsApp the word REGISTER to 0600 123456
· Dial *134*832*ID number# if you don’t have internet access;
· If you are over 60, you can be registered and vaccinated in one go at your nearest site.
