From the VC’s Desk
The UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre to open on 1 September 2021
31 August 2021 | VC Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng
Dear colleagues and students
I am proud to announce that the Western Cape Department of Health and the University of Cape Town (UCT) will open the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre at our Forest Hill residence complex in Main Road, Mowbray, on 1 September 2021. The entrance is on Broad Street and I hope to see many of you come in to receive your COVID-19 vaccination, if you have not already received it. Anyone from the age of 18 is eligible.
The vaccination site was officially launched on Monday, 30 August. At that time we explained that its name represents the hope we want to instil in each person who visits. The opportunity to be vaccinated minimises the dire impact of the virus and is a positive step in the battle against the pandemic.
The UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre will be open to all members of the public.
- It will be open every weekday.
- Pre-registration is no longer a requirement. If you show up, you will be assisted through the process.
- However, pre-registration on the national Electronic Vaccination Data System does assist the medical team to access vaccines more quickly and to ensure there are enough vaccines for everybody.
- Read the Western Cape Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccination Fact Sheet if you have questions about the benefits and effects of vaccination.
At full capacity, as many as 75 people can be vaccinated every hour. Its location, with easy access via the Main Road and the M3, is convenient for people to either drive themselves or take public transport. Because the entry is on Broad Street, Forest Hill residents and staff members will not be disturbed.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all the UCT colleagues, under the leadership of chief operating officer, Dr Reno Morar, for their hard work in setting up this vaccination site; the residents of Forest Hill for sharing this space; and the Western Cape Department of Health for partnering with us in this very important public health intervention.
Sincerely
Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng
Vice-Chancellor
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UCT’s response to COVID-19
COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March 2020 and to implement a national lockdown from 26 March 2020. UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated with the latest COVID-19 information. Please note that the information on this page is subject to change depending on current lockdown regulations.
Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, has in June 2022 repealed some of South Africa’s remaining COVID-19 regulations: namely, sections 16A, 16B and 16C of the Regulations Relating to the Surveillance and the Control of Notifiable Medical Conditions under the National Health Act. We are now no longer required to wear masks or limit gatherings. Venue restrictions and checks for travellers coming into South Africa have now also been removed.
Read the latest document available on the UCT policies web page.
Campus communications
2022
UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre
On Wednesday, 20 July, staff from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Health Sciences came together with representatives from the Western Cape Government at the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre at Forest Hill Residence to acknowledge the centre’s significance in the fight against COVID-19 and to thank its staff for their contributions. The centre opened on 1 September 2021 with the aim of providing quality vaccination services to UCT staff, students and the nearby communities, as well as to create an opportunity for medical students from the Faculty of Health Sciences to gain practical public health skills. The vaccination centre ceased operations on Friday, 29 July 2022.
With the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.
“After almost a year of operation, the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, located at the Forest Hill residence complex in Mowbray, will close on Friday, 29 July 2022. I am extremely grateful and proud of all staff, students and everyone involved in this important project.”
– Vice-Chancellor Prof Mamokgethi PhakengWith the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.
Frequently asked questions
Global Citizen Asks: Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe & Effective?
UCT’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) collaborated with Global Citizen, speaking to trusted experts to dispel vaccine misinformation.
If you have further questions about the COVID-19 vaccine check out the FAQ produced by the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF). The DTHF has developed a dedicated chat function where you can ask your vaccine-related questions on the bottom right hand corner of the website.
IDM YouTube channel | IDM website
“As a contact university, we look forward to readjusting our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in 2023 as the COVID-19 regulations have been repealed.”
– Prof Harsha Kathard, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning
We are continuing to monitor the situation and we will be updating the UCT community regularly – as and when there are further updates. If you are concerned or need more information, students can contact the Student Wellness Service on 021 650 5620 or 021 650 1271 (after hours), while staff can contact 021 650 5685.