A call for more Unisans to vaccinate

(Lebogang Kotsokoane: Health Promoter & Sister Mokgadi Tefo: Professional Nurse)

Unisa’s on-campus Covid-19 antigen rapid testing and vaccination programme for staff and students is in full swing. Organised by the university’s Campus Health Clinic, the programme started on 13 October and will run until 17 December 2021.

On the Muckleneuk Campus, SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) antigen rapid testing is taking place in an isolation room in the Cas van Vuuren Building, and the vaccination site is in the Protea Restaurant located in the OR Tambo Building.

Positioning itself with the current National Department of Health Programme, the university has responded to the national vaccination roll-out plan and has scaled up its vaccination programme in the Post-school Education and Training (PSET) environment in line with a Higher Health directive. According to Sister Mokgadi Tefo, Professional Nurse in the Department of Human Resources within the Employee Relations and Wellness Directorate, Unisa forms part of PSET as an open distance eLearning institution, hence ManCom approved the vaccination programme after Minister Blade Nzimande announced the Covid-19 vaccination roll out plan for higher education sector.

In a virtual interview, Sister Tefo said the participation in an on-campus vaccination is not mandatory and participation is voluntary. However, she mentioned that Unisans are encouraged to do participate because it is the right thing to do. The university utilises the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine.

Unisa Campus Health Clinic - Cas van Vuuren Building

Over 100 vaccine doses have been administered at the university’s Muckleneuk campus. Sister Tefo emphasised that Unisans, especially students, should come to the campus to get vaccinated. Information on regional vaccination sites is also provided.

So far, the response is awesome for on-campus vaccination and the self-registration administration support is doing a great job.

A Unisan participating in the vaccination programme.

Sister Tefo encourages staff and students to check Covid-19 communiques from Unisa’s Directorate of Institutional Development. If clarity is needed, they can use the contact details provided below.

The clinic will remain open strictly on an appointment basis for primary health care needs.

Staff and students who wish to participate in the Unisa vaccination programme must have pre-registered on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) self-registration portal by means of one of the following channels:

• Self-registration web portal: https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za

• USSD: Dial *134*832*ID Number# (No ID? – Just Dial *134*832#)
• WhatsApp portal: Send word “REGISTER” to 060 012 3456 on WhatsApp
• Toll-free hotline: Call 0800 029 999

Self-registration general instructions can be accessed at https://sacoronavirus.co.za/evds/ (use your SA identity number).

Those who want to be vaccinated through this programme must bring along their Unisa staff card/student card and identity card/document. If you do not have medical aid, you can still participate in the vaccination programme.

For bookings and enquiries, please contact the following members of staff:

• Sister Mokgadi Tefo: 012 429 6077; tefomj@unisa.ac.za
• Lebogang Kotsokoane: 012 429 3528; kotsolm@unisa.ac.za
• Dimakatso Olifant: 012 429 6629; olifalm@unisa.ac.za

Unisans who are not close to the Muckleneuk Campus are advised to go to their nearest vaccination site.

*By Lesego Chiloane-Ravhudzulo, Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement