Discovery Health COVID-19 vaccination sites

If you're a Discovery medical aid client, chances are that you have received communication regarding the various COVID-19 vaccination sites that will become available from the 17th of May. If you haven't received this information, however, read below. 

Discovery’s vaccination sites

Discovery is setting up several vaccination sites to support the Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign, and to assist Discovery clients and members of their administered schemes to access vaccinations. 

These sites will be operated by Discovery Health and include:

• Discovery offices
• Various Virgin Active clubs across the country 
• Large venues such as Gallagher Estate

The sites will come online in a phased approach, ultimately resulting in more than 20 sites across the country.

The exact timing and location of these is pending accreditation and vaccine supply from the Department of Health. The Discovery head office, 1 Discovery Place in Sandton, is one of the sites and has already been transformed into a highly efficient, large-scale vaccination centre, with over 30 vaccinators capable of administering over 2,500 vaccinations per day. 

It will be run on a booking-only basis, with a valid token received by SMS from the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS).

Vaccination is free at the vaccination site for every South African resident. For medical scheme members, the costs of vaccines and vaccination will be funded by their medical scheme, with no impact to your medical savings accounts and available benefits.

READ: Excitement, optimism as the elderly receive their Covid-19 jabs

What you need to do; and what you can expect

If you are over 60 years of age:

• Register on the Department of Health’s EVDS. This is mandatory. Based on your registration details, EVDS will issue you with your unique token when it is your turn to be vaccinated. Without this token, you won’t be eligible for vaccination. You can also register by dialling *134*832# or WhatsApp the word REGISTER to 0600 123456
• Please also register on the Discovery Vaccination Portal. The web-based platform provides support throughout your vaccination journey, including personalised pre-vaccination communication, making sure that your vaccination experience is streamlined and efficient, and provides access to a digital vaccination certificate.

The over 60s who have registered on EVDS will start receiving SMSes outlining their scheduled vaccination day, time, and site (near their home or work) over the next few days. Remember, there are still over 700,000 healthcare workers who need to be vaccinated as the priority, so the scale up will be gradual over the next one to two weeks. Please do not go to a site before you are invited to do so via SMS.

If you are younger than 60 years of age, assist those in your community to register as per above; and await further communication on your specific eligibility.

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