‘Dishonest people are spoiling a good system’: How the public tried to hack the EVDS
South Africa’s Electronic Vaccination Data System has not failed, but it has been abused by members of the public. People under 60 years old have been misrepresenting themselves as healthcare workers on the system in order to get an appointment and receive a vaccine dose before they are eligible, according to Dr Nicholas Crisp who leads the team in charge of the system. As a result, the healthcare worker section of the portal has been shut down. Read the report by Estelle Ellis here.
Health workers queue for vaccines at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla / Daliy Maverick)
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Health Minister Zeli Mkhize says that Pfizer vaccines will land in the country on Sunday night.
This initial delivery will be followed by the arrival of approximately the same number of doses on a weekly basis.
Healthcare workers, including traditional healers and citizens above the age of 60, are encouraged to register on the EVDS.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says the first batch of Pfizer vaccines will land at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday evening.
The first 325 260 doses would arrive at 23:45, Mkhize said in a statement. Upon arrival, the entire batch will be transported initially to a central warehouse. Samples will be sent to the National Control Laboratory for quality assurance and, after release, will be distributed to the provinces, he said.
Government to assess lockdown restrictions as South Africa hits 10,000 daily Covid-19 cases
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Health minister Dr Zeli Mkhize says that South Africa is experiencing exponential growth in daily Covid-19 cases, and that the government will look at further restrictions ‘as required’ to address this increase.
On Wednesday (16 December), the country reported over 10,000 daily Covid-19 cases for the first time since August, and the peak of its first coronavirus wave. An additional 166 deaths were reported.
Total coronavirus cases in the country now stand at 883,687, while the country has reported a total of 774,585 recoveries.
“We continue to assess the entire country and where we identify risks, we will engage and make a determination if further containment measures or restrictions are required,” Mkhize said.