Online vaccine registration opens for general public in South Africa

The Department of Health has announced that online vaccine registration is opening for the general public in South Africa on Friday.

From 4pm on 16 April, the general public will be able to register on the online EVDS portal. However, people over the age of 60 years are encouraged to register first and will be prioritised.

The announcement was made by Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize in a Zoom presentation and shared on Department of Health social media channels.

“The electronic vaccination data system (EVDS) will be live at 16:00. People over 60 years and above are requested to start registering on #EVDS starting from today in the afternoon,” the department said on 16 April.

The electronic vaccination data system (EVDS) will be live at 16:00. People over 60 years and above are requested to start registering on #EVDS starting from today in the afternoon #vaccines

— Department of Health (@HealthZA) April 16, 2021

The online portal for vaccinations, which previously requested that only health workers register, has since updated its user interface.

“Everyone who registers will be offered vaccination. We will start with people 60 years and older and move down the age groups as quickly as we can,” the site says.

“When it is your turn, you will receive an SMS with the date, time, and place for your vaccination.”

Currently, the site asks two questions before beginning your registration: whether you’re a healthcare worker, and whether you’re over 60.

What will I need to register for the vaccine online in South Africa?

According to the SA Government News Agency, there will be no distinction between private and state healthcare users in terms of priority. However, private healthcare users will need to share their medical aid details.

You will also need to provide your ID number, cellphone number, and residential address. These details will be used to register you, assign you a site for vaccination, and communicate the details to you.

You can access the online vaccine portal at vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za.

Once you have registered, you should receive an SMS to confirm that the system has your details.

When you have been assigned a vaccination appointment, you will receive an SMS with the date and place where you will receive your dose. The site will either be close to your home or workplace.

Phase Two of the vaccine rollout will begin in May. This phase will prioritise people over 60, people in congregate settings, and people with comorbidities.

However, it is unclear whether the vaccine registration portal requests information regarding comorbidities.

Feature image: Hakan Nural/Unsplash

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