25 Nov 2021

In an effort to increase the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine in Mahalapye Sub-District, Mahalapye District Health Management Team (DHMT) has embarked on a vaccine fair, from November 22 to 26, 2021.

Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, Mahalapye DHMT public relations officer, Ms Pauline Bontle said that the vaccine fair held at Mahalapye Youth Park from 8 am to 4 pm was going well.

Also, she said the 18 to 29 years age group was turning up in impressive numbers for their first dose of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. She urged people who have not yet taken their first jab to visit the Youth Park and get vaccinated as the fair ends on November 26.

Ms Bontle explained that the fair was targeted at people taking first dose of Johnson and Johnson vaccine and those taking their second dose of AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines.

This fair, she said was being held in partnership with; African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships, Botswana Railways, Business Botswana, District Emergency Operations Centre, Global Communities, Silence Kills Support Group and Ministers Fraternal, Water Utilities Corporation and Lewis.

Meanwhile, when updating the on-going Sub-District Council meeting about the COVID-19 vaccination progress in the sub-district on Tuesday, Mahalapye District Hospital Superintendent, Dr Maxwell Mungisi said DHMT’s target population for vaccine in the sub-district was 86 023. Of this targeted 86 023 population, he said a total of 41 706 had taken first dose whilst 54 964 were fully vaccinated.

Since COVID-19 vaccination campaign was launched in the sub-district on April 9, 2021, Dr Mungisi said the campaign was still on-going, subject to availability of vaccines. Since September 2021, he said there had been an increase in the flow of vaccines, both in quantity and type.

“Our vaccine allocation per type as a sub-district was as follows; for AstraZeneca we had a total allocation of 28 000, of which 14 729 has been given as first dose and 12 942 as second dose, whilst for Sinovac we had a total of 49 798, of which 24 903 has been given as first dose and 23 733 as second dose,” said Dr Mungisi.

“With Johnson and Johnson, which is the vaccine that we give as a single dose, we had a total of 27 000 and we have, so far, given a total of 17 843, whilst for Moderna we got a total of 1 580 and had administered a total of 1 586, as first dose. But, through the Vaccination Fair that we have embarked on, we have so far given a significant number of doses and, therefore, expect these numbers to change,” he added.

With regards to COVID-19 tests, he said a total of 97 335 tests had been done, consisting of both the PCR and Rapid Antigen Test. As of September 2021, he said there had been a decline in the number of COVID-19 positive cases in the sub-district.

The sub-district, he said had registered a cumulative of 10 795 COVID-19 positive cases, of which 10 618 were recoveries, 10 were active cases and 167 deaths. Of the 10 active cases, he said seven were under home isolation, whilst three were in facility isolation.

However, Dr Mungisi emphasised the need for continuous adherence to all COVID-19 health protocols, as the pandemic was not yet over.  ENDS