Holidaymakers at the coast can get their vaccination and booster shots at an array of health facilities in the Erongo region.
Staff and facilities are ready to deal with a possible Covid-19 surge if holidaymakers need hospitalisation or emergency care, as the annual exodus to the coast is already in full swing.
The Erongo regional health director Anna Jonas told New Era with the holiday season, most of their facilities are usually in demand – and this time around, the region stands ready to deal with the influx of visitors as well as a continued surge in positive cases.
“We are one of the regions pushing for people to be vaccinated. It is not as it was at the beginning. We had a high uptake, especially with the governor campaign,” said Jonas.
She said there are 10 vaccination sites at Walvis Bay, seven in Swakopmund, six at Usakos and about seven at Omaruru.
“All our district hospitals and clinics can provide vaccines – but in addition to that, there are other sites like the Platz am Meer in Swakopmund; we also have an outreach team for each district,” stated Jonas.
“Our plea this time of the year goes to mall managers, shop owners, and religious leaders to ensure that infection prevention measures are put in place, as people are visiting these establishments and not adhering to the wearing of masks or sanitising.”
She called for the tightening and close monitoring of establishments to reduce the possible transmission.
“Our religious leaders especially, people will be attending church ceremonies and celebrate Christmas, our pleas also goes out to them to make sure that everything is adhered to,” she pleaded.
She stated, with the governor’s campaign, the numbers rose from about 800 to 1 000 per day – but for now, on average per day, only 200 get vaccinated in the region.
“During this festive season, we are ready to take on those who would like to be vaccinated. We have all the vaccines in all four districts. The 12 to 17 age group has also been added, and we are mostly recording an uptake in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. Omaruru and Usakos are yet to come up,” added Jonas.
As of 15 December 2021, Erongo tops the list of 12 to 17-year-olds who have been vaccinated with Pfizer, totalling 137, with Jonas encouraging parents to approach the office for more insights on the vaccines and how they work.
So far, 416 children have been vaccinated from Erongo, Hardap, //Kharas, Kavango East and West, Khomas, Omusati, Oshana and Otjozondjupa.
Jonas said: “They can have their children vaccinated; people are hesitant because they haven’t seen children severely affected or about vaccination, as one never knows what will happen. Reaching herd immunity is the best for the country to have coverage as high as possible”.
“Most of our children stay with elderly people, especially in the villages; it is safer for them to be vaccinated to protect themselves and those around them,” she said.