The NDoH official policy communication on vaccination 5 July outlines how the adjusted vaccination rollout. It differs from the original PHASE 2 rollout hence the use of “adapted.” It is not explicitly linked to phase 2 but it is hard to see where else it fits. Missing are those with comorbidities like NCDs, including diabetes and cancer.
1.4 Every vaccination site (public or private) must have a pro-active plan for managing walkins for vaccination.
Age group (+40) and congregate responsibilities government supported by private ;
Essential workers according to government sector “vertical” rollout
Workers by priority “economic” sector (mining, automotive industry, taxi operators) rollout via companies. Not clear if limited to the above sectors.
A general caveat about using EVDS to register all who are vaccinated.
NDoH & provincial DOH (PDoH) collaboration with private sector responsibilities
1.1 Vaccination registration & administration by age groups (5 subpoints around EVDS and reimbursement). 1.2 Working group 1: capacity analysis including underserved areas for the attention of PDoH, presumably with the prospect of solving problems (members NDoH/Business for SA). 1.3 Working group 2: NDoH equity monitor of demand in districts/municipalities to resolve coverage issues & look at rollout to 40+. 1.4 Walkins are OK & every vaccination site (public or private) must have a pro-active plan for walkins. (6 subpoints) 1.5 Congregate settings: homes for people with disabilities, old age homes and later on prisons (correctional facilities) remains PDoH / privates sector responsibility.
2 Roll-out of essential worker programme public sector
2.1 “Vertical” rollout with key government “sector” “projects” departments (9 subgroups) 2.2 PDoH not responsible for the above except “DBE project and around 220,000 people from 6 categories. 2.3 Vaccination of remaining health care workers (HCWs) according to V4HCW registration site and these also include “private employers.” (5 items) 2.4 Police (SAPS) is managing its own vaccination project. 2.5 Department of Defence and Military Veterans for the SANDF programme due to start on 8 July. 2.6 A number of government services still to be finalisied e.g. correctional services vaccination.
3 Prioritised sectors of the economy
3.1 President listed these previously mining, automotive manufacturing and taxi operators. 3.2 Many private sector companies have started vaccination of employees and contract workers. 3.3 Companies using in-house or outsourced health services.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
4 EVDS-related issues
Four caveats about the importance of registering via EVDS in all circumstances.
On 20 July 2021, the SA NCDs Alliance is co-hosting and coordinating a people’s consultation on universal health coverage (UHC). This is especially for you if you use government health services.
The South African version of UHC is called “national health insurance” or NHI. But are we talking about the same thing? There are some big differences. What do you think?
The event is a virtual focus group lasting 2 hours with 30 participants. You can only participate if you apply. We want to hear your voice especially if you are part of a vulnerable or hard-to-reach group that uses public or government health services. So you need to complete that application form and showing us why your participation is important.
People who are left behind or have trouble having their health needs met before or during COVID-19?
Civil society participants, breakout group facilitators or note-takers.
We want to make sure that we hear from you, the people, and especially if you are in that “seldom heard” and vulnerable group. We can help a few selected participants with data package to participate on the day.
The South African Non-Communicable Disease Alliance (SANCDA) will host the 3rd Happy Hour Xchange on Thursday, 22 April 2021 at 18:00 focussing on ‘Disability, Down Syndrome and COVID-19.
Join Dr Vicki for her Xchange with Ancella Ramjas (National Executive Director: Down Syndrome SA) for part 1: Downright disastrous COVID-19 response for persons with Down Syndrome? And part 2: Missing the point of vaccinations.
Registration for the NCD Happy Hour Xchange is essential. Limited space is available.
People living with NCDs are at a higher risk of becoming severely ill if they contract COVID-19. NCDs are underlying health conditions that require you to take special care: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, obesity, dementia, kidney disease and cancer.
NCDs and other chronic conditions can make the immune system slow down and making it easier to get an infection like COVID-19. So, we want to keep you healthy.
The SANCDA, founded in 2013, brings together trusted South African organisations and together we have 200 years of service for people living with NCDs. We work with civil society organisations and individuals to focus on NCDs policy and implementation in South Africa. We want public policy that is transparent and responsive to all of our health needs and the conditions we face. Our partners support the upfront disclosure and transparency of funding arrangements for stakeholders and partners. Our funding is received from philanthropic groups and supported by the global NCD Alliance.
NCDs Happy Hour Xchange is funded by a NCD Alliance’s 2020 Act on NCDs Campaign Fuel Award, part of NCD Alliance’s partnership with Access Accelerated.
If you missed the SANCD Alliance Second Happy Hour Xchange last night, you can watch it on the below link. In this Happy Hour Xchange Dr Vicki Pinkney-Atkinson discussed with Dr Waassila Jassat about COVID-19 in South Africa and NCDs – surfing for survival and surfing the waves, including the 3rd wave expected from the end of April.
Dr Waasila is a Public Health Specialist with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases– NICD).
In part 2, Dr Murray Dryden from NICD discusses long COVID-19 in South Africa, including how it differs from chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
A Must watch for anyone living with a Non Communicable disease and worried about COVID-19.
The event was proudly managed byEP Digital South Africa
The South African Non-Communicable Disease Alliance (SANCDA) will host the 2nd Happy Hour Xchange on Thursday, 8 April 2021 at 18:00.
Dr Vicki will be Xchanging with Dr Waasila Jassat about COVID-19 in South Africa and NCDs – surfing for survival and surfing the waves, including the 3rd wave expected from the end of April. Dr Waasila is a Public Health Specialist (National Institute for Communicable Diseases – NICD).
In part 2, Dr Murray Dryden and Caroline Mudara from NICD are discussing long COVID-19 in South Africa, including how it differs from chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
People living with NCDs are at a higher risk of becoming severely ill if they contract COVID-19. NCDs are underlying health conditions that require you to take special care: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, dementia, kidney disease and cancer.
NCDs and other chronic conditions can make the immune system slow down and making it easier to get an infection like COVID-19. So, we want to keep you healthy.
If you missed our first Happy Hour Xchange:
About NCDs Happy Hour Xchange
Happy Hour Xchange is a series of knowledge Xpanding events informing and inspiring NCDs+ civil society organisations and activists to engage on diverse policy issues. Xperts Xchange key emerging facts and unknowns with us in an open and frank discussion via Zoom. Our aim is to Xpand the NCDs+ policy dialogue through engagement and co-production.
Tone: Mutually respectful, interactive, inquisitive and informal.
Frequency: Weekly or biweekly Thursdays for 1 hour between 18:00-19:00 SAST.
Format: A modern-day seminar. Xpert, NAG selected chair,
Part 1: Xpert – 15 minutes and Questions 15 minutes
Part 2: Xpert – 15 minutes and Questions 15 minutes
Platform: Virtual meeting via Zoom a NAG chair and Xpert guest
Questions can be submitted before and during a session.
Cobranding with other organisations is possible.
Contact Dr Vicki Pinkney-Atkinson, Director of SANCDA on 083 383 8159 or email: [email protected] for more information.
Hydroxychloroquine does not reduce deaths from COVID-19 and may even cause unwanted damage, recent studies have found. According to the new Cochrane Review, the drug probably does not reduce the number of people needing mechanical ventilation.
“In addition, they note that no new trials of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for treating COVID-19 should be started,” the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) said on Tuesday. The findings are contained in the study published by authors based in India, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, who undertook the systematic review of studies that used chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for treating or preventing COVID-19 disease.
It is also likely that hydroxychloroquine caused more unwanted effects than placebo in the trials undertaken. I think this underlines the importance of ensuring that we have reliable evidence even in an emergency situation like this pandemic where there is public pressure for rapid treatments and prevention options.
Dr Tamara Kredo, Cochrane South Africa, SAMRC
“They searched for studies that examined giving chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine to people with COVID-19; people at risk of being exposed to the virus; and people who had been exposed to the virus,” the SAMRC explained. According to the SAMRC, the public demand for a COVID-19 cure fuelled speculation that the drug might be effective based on unreliable research that did not meet the inclusion criteria of this review.
“The then US President Trump declared chloroquine a ‘game changer’ about a year ago, leading to global demand and confusion. The research community rapidly organised large trials, which demonstrated no evidence of an effect, and these trials are summarised in this review.”
The Council said the review authors included 14 relevant studies of which 12 were studies of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine used to treat COVID-19 in 8 569 adults. Meanwhile, the two studies focused on whether hydroxychloroquine prevents COVID-19 in 3 346 adults who had been exposed to the virus but had no symptoms of infection. This included research from different countries, four in China and one each from Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Spain, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and North America and a global study in 30 countries.
According to the local author from Cochrane South Africa, Tamara Kredo, this review offers conclusive evidence that hydroxychloroquine has no impact on clinically important outcomes for both the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
Senior author, Dr Tom Fletcher, said: “The review should put a line under using this drug to treat COVID-19. But some countries and health providers are still caught up in the earlier hype and prescribing the drug. We hope this review will help these practices end soon”. This Cochrane Review was co-ordinated by the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group (CIDG), which has its editorial base at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM).
Cochrane South Africa (SA) is an internal research unit of the SAMRC and is part of the global, independent Cochrane network of researchers, professionals, patients, carers and people interested in health. Cochrane is a non-profit organisation that prepares and disseminates information on what works and what does not in healthcare. These reviews enable policymakers, health service providers and the public to make informed decisions about healthcare.
People living with NCDs are at a higher risk of becoming severely ill if they contract COVID-19. NCDs are underlying health conditions that require you to take special care: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, obesity, dementia, kidney disease and cancer.
