Question NW824 to the Minister of Public Enterprises

Reply:

According to the information received from ALEXKOR

a) The four (4) frontline healthcare workers, employees at the Alexkor Occupational health Department, have been registered on the National Department of Health Electronic Vaccine Data System. Currently all vaccines are being coordinated and supplied by the NDOH.

Dr Vaughan was contacted on 13 March 2021 to inform him that the vaccination roll-out will start with the general practitioners in the district.

Dr Vic Vaughan

Occupational Medical Practitioner

Have been registered under Nababeep Clinic, Namaqua District.

George Richards

Occupational Health Nursing Practitioner

Have been registered under Alexanderbaai Clinic, Namaqua District.

SMS confirmation 02 March 2021

Karl Adams

Emergency Care Technician

Have been registered under Alexanderbaai Clinic, Namaqua District.

SMS confirmation 02 March 2021

Teschwill Matthys

Basic Ambulance Assistant

Have been registered under Alexanderbaai Clinic, Namaqua District.

SMS confirmation 02 March 2021

According to the information received from DENEL

Denel’s workers are not classified as frontline workers therefore, the SOC does not have a vaccine roll-out plan for this category of workers.

According to the information received from ESKOM

Eskom has a COVID-19 Vaccine strategy and roll-out plan that is aligned to the national vaccine strategy. As part of phase 1, Eskom frontline health care workers have registered on the Electronic Vaccine Data System (EVDS) and await to be vaccinated.

Attached is the Eskom COVID-19 vaccine strategy and roll-out plan. It outlines the process to vaccinate employees and contract workers.

According to the information received from SAFCOL

SAFCOL has 3 517 employees (including permanent employees, fixed term employees and contractors) as at February 2021. SAFCOL employees are not frontline workers and are therefore not affected in phase one of the national vaccine rollout process.

Subject to resolution of challenges, relating to financing of vaccines and medical skills constraints at the two clinics owned by SAFCOL, SAFCOL’s vaccine rollout plan is cognisant of the fact that Government will source, distribute and oversee the rollout of the vaccine. Furthermore, that Government, as the sole purchaser of vaccines, will distribute it to provincial governments and the private sector. Consequently, SAFCOL’s roll-out plan will be aligned to the Government roll-out plan as and when the relevant phases are announced. SAFCOL will implement the vaccination programme following a phased approach as detailed in the roll-out plan below.

Phase 1 - Rollout for SAFCOL. (Phase one for SAFCOL will be implemented when the Government implement its phase two. SAFCOL will include the following employees)	Phase 2 - Rollout for SAFCOL (Phase two for SAFCOL. For SAFCOL will be implemented when the Government implement its phase three. SAFCOL will include the following employees)
Every employee over 60 years and those over 18 years with co-morbidities.	Every employee older than 18 years, who were not covered during Phase 1, targeting the entire workforce.
Production workers and employees who cannot work from home.
Change and Stakeholder Management
SAFCOL employees are educated on the vaccine and are encouraged to be vaccinated to ensure the success of the programme. SAFCOL’s existing COVID-19 communications and wellness programmes have commenced with communications around vaccine rollout to the limited extent possible at this point in time. Clear communication will continuously emphasise the fact that all employees’ personal wishes to receive the vaccine (or not), will be respected with no adverse impacts in terms of the employment relationship. Onsite consultation with union and contractors will be encouraged.
Risk Management Strategy
The rollout plan will start gradually with small groups of employees, to manage implementation risk. Employee consent/participation forms will be implemented through the clinics to keep accurate records that will inform evaluation on the impact of the vaccine rollout programme and any improvement decisions required over time.

According to the information from SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS

South African Airways does not have a roll-out strategy.

According to the information received from SOUTH AFRICAN EXPRESS

Not applicable. The SOC is under provisional liquidation.

According to the information received from TRANSNET

1. Transnet does not have any healthcare workers who are classified as 1a frontline health care workers as per Government’s classification and roll-out phases. However, Transnet does have healthcare workers who are classified as category 1b and has ensured that this category of employees are registered on the EVDS (Electronic Vaccine Data System) in preparation for their round of vaccinations.

2. Transnet does have an approach to ensure the roll-out of vaccinations for its employees and has segmented its employee’s according to Government’s Three (3) Phase roll-out plan. The Transnet Occupational Health Clinics are also being equipped for vaccinations to be administered to all Transnet employees.