JAB DRIVE-THROUGH CENTRE SET UP AT HOUGHTON MOSQUE IN JOHANNESBURG

Mon 02 August 2021:

The Gauteng province and the Muslim Association of South Africa have teamed up to set-up a drive-thru vaccination site in Johannesburg.

The site is situated at the Houghton Mosque and has seen over 700 vaccinations administered a day with a minimal amount of available volunteers.

The site only opened this week and its already reaching its daily targets.

The mosque was chosen on the basis that it would provide a space that people are “comfortable with”, explained Yaseen Theba, chairman of the Muslim Association of South Africa.

He added that the location has allowed the team to vaccinate in a sterile area, while also dealing with hesitancy issues.

#VacciNation Day 4 in Numbers:

🕌Houghton Masjid Update:
31 July 2021

🧑‍⚕️Healthcare Volunteers : 48
👨‍💻Other Volunteers : 26

💉Vaccines administered: 940
from 🕛 8am – 4pm
Across several shifts

⏱ Avg. wait time: 13min + 15min Observation
🚙 Vehicles: 651#VaccineRollOutSA pic.twitter.com/OkrPiKT1EQ

— Muslim Association of South Africa (@MuslimAssocSA) July 31, 2021

“It was frightening at first because you wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was quick,” Johannesburg resident Tumi Sedumedi said. “I’m so relieved that I got it.”

Gauteng Province, which incorporates Johannesburg, has increased the number of vaccination sites to 660, as the campaign ramps up.

my local mosque doing the things https://t.co/Pq03kmEbQT

— Qaanitah|Mzekezeke|Hunter (@QaanitahHunter) July 27, 2021

WATCH: Premier @David_Makhura is at Houghton Masjid drive-thru vaccination site at 49 West Str. as the site opens its gates today. The site requires eligible persons to register on the EVDS before presenting themselves for vaccination. Over 300 people have been vaccinated. pic.twitter.com/yVT5TVI0Zx

— GautengGov (@GautengProvince) July 27, 2021

As Gauteng continues to expand its vaccination sites in a bid to get more residents inoculated against Covid-19, last week, Premier David Makhura says the province plans to vaccinate at least 100 ,00 per day in the coming weeks.

“We aim to double our vaccination sites and increase vaccinations [in Gauteng] to 100,000 a day. Last week we reached 61,000 per day. We will achieve this by working with the private sector and social partners,” Makhura said.

According to the Department of Health, 7,504,373 vaccine doses have been administered so far across the country.

Of those, 190,832 were administered on Friday.

The country has had over 71,400 deaths from COVID-19, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally.