Tech in Africa
South Africa has established an electronic vaccination data system (EVDS) for use in the management and surveillance of the Covid-19 vaccine. The use of barcodes will provide data that is crucial in monitoring vaccine uptake and coverage, prioritization of certain groups, planning, and monitoring the vaccine’s effectiveness.
The disclosure was made by the health DDG who happens to be a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee centered on vaccines and spoke during the presentation of SA’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout strategy.
EVDS will leverage existing electronic systems that are currently deployed and implemented to scale. He explained that the system supports the collection of information on patient demographics, doses taken, health establishment where it took place, and any adverse conditions that took occurred due to a record number of vaccinations taken.
The Second wave
Positive cases are rising by 18,000 a day with fatalities racing to 29000. The vaccine programme will be rolled out countrywide in a phased approach with the first target being healthcare workers. According to estimates, 1.2 million will be vaccinated in the first round. The second phase will target essential workers in congregate situations, people above 60 years, and others at high risk.
