COVID-19 vaccinations for Momentum Medical Aid Schemes

We would like to share our progress on enabling the vaccination of Momentum Medical aid Schemes Members against COVID-19 as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Given that COVID-19 is a global pandemic. All governments are required to co-ordinate and manage the response to the disease in the best way they can. As is the case in other countries, the South African Government has decided that it will source, distribute and oversee. The rollout of the vaccination programme, and will therefore be the sole purchaser and distributor. The COVID-19 vaccines to provincial governments and the private sector, including medical scheme members.

As the private sector is currently prohibited from purchasing the vaccine directly from manufacturers, required to purchase it from Government. Our aim has been to contribute to a solution which will make the greatest impact. In achieving population immunity in the best interest of our Members, South Africa's people, and our overall economy.

Therefore, Momentum Medical aid Schemes, together with our Administrator. Momentum Health Solutions, has been working closely with Government, industry bodies, business and labour sectors. To influence a successful vaccine rollout strategy. As shown below, stocks of the vaccine will be coming into the country in batches. Over the next few months, hence the need for a phased approach to the vaccine rollout.

In order to ensure that people most at risk are vaccinated first. Vaccines will be administered in phases, in line with Government's rollout plan, ie:

healthcare workers in phase 1;
people over 60 years and high-risk individuals in phase 2; and
the rest of the population over 18 years in phase 3.
This rollout plan is dependent on the supply of the vaccine, the more vaccines that become available the faster the rollout can progress.
In partnership with Momentum Health Solutions, we are gearing up to be able to deliver the vaccines in the most efficient way possible.

In partnership with Momentum Health Solutions, we are gearing up to be able to deliver the vaccines in the most efficient way possible.

To assist our Members around the country to obtain vaccines in their allocated phase, the following has been established:

We have procured the sites for our 5 large vaccination centres in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Durban. These centres will provide most of the capacity for the vaccination of our Members and the communities in which they are located.
Our existing 18 health walk-in centres across the country will be adapted to facilitate the administration of vaccines.
We will also utilise 8 occupational health clinics and 5 mobile clinics to further supplement our capacity. These clinics already have all the medical requirements in place.

Therefore, we will initially have 36 vaccination centres across the country which will be used for administering the vaccine. We have already contracted with some of the additional nursing capacity required to staff these centres and 80% of these nurses have now undergone the required training. This capacity should allow us to vaccinate between 40 000 and 55 000 people daily, depending on availability of vaccines.

The Government's Electronic Vaccine Data System (EVDS) self-registration portal is now open to healthcare workers and people 60 years and older, and will move down the age groups as quickly as possible. We are proud to be a part of this journey with you and are ready to pay for your vaccine.

We will continue to engage Government to progress its existing strategy as effectively as possible, and aid in accelerating the process. We will also continue to prepare for any potential changes in the Government's procurement strategy, with the wellbeing of our Members remaining of the utmost importance.

For the most comprehensive Medical aid Schemes contact us today.

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