Covid-19 vaccinators have been hit by yet another attack in Tshwane after a team was robbed at gun-point of their cellphones and vaccination programme gadgets at the weekend.

According to the Gauteng department of health, the incident happened in Shoshanguve.

Department spokesperson Kwara Kekana said that the continued attacks on mobile vaccination teams, who are taking the vaccine programme to the communities, are not only putting the lives of healthcare workers in danger, but they have negative impact on the vaccination programmes.  

“In yet another incident, our partner Pulse Health team, which is supporting Soshanguve Block JJ vaccination team, was robbed at gunpoint by a group of five men at a pop-up vaccination site next to Rivoningo Primary School,” said Kekana.

The incident happened as the team was administering vaccines.

“The perpetrators fled with vaccination programme gadgets which consist of two tablets and five cell phones belonging to the team,” explained Kekana.

Furthermore, she said the matter was reported at Rietgat police station where a case was opened.

“Fortunately, none of the team members were harmed and counselling will be provided to the affected staff,” she said.

Kekana said in December another mobile vaccination team was robbed at gunpoint at a pop-up vaccination site in Wonder City Taxi Rank, also in Soshanguve.

“Members of the community need to rise in defence of the vaccination teams as the situation is getting out of hand. All these incidents are happening at the time when the government is trying to increase vaccine access by taking the vaccination programme closer to the people,” she said, adding that, “we call on all members of society to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that these perpetrators are brought to book.”

Tebogo Mlambo, a community leader, said that patrollers should volunteer themselves to ensure safety for health workers and residents, he said that vaccination sites are visited by vulnerable people.

“At least one vaccination site should have safety and security patrollers who are always there to try and reduce crime,” he said, adding that a lot of youth are unemployed in Soshanguve and should use their time to actually do good for the community.

“The police should work with patrollers to protect everyone,” said Mlabo, explaining that patrollers don’t have firearms like criminals.

Gauteng police spokesperson Mavela Masondo told Sowetan that a case of armed robbery has been opened and that no arrests have been made yet.