Police vaccinated, SANDF to follow
“I was initially scared, but now that I have received my vaccine, I am going to encourage my colleagues to come and be next in line.”
Seven hundred and seventy police force members were vaccinated in just over two days at the SAPS Tshwane Academy, one of two vaccination sites in the province for policemen and -women.
“I feel very happy about today,” said Constance Makhaye (58), a cleaner at the academy who has worked at the SAPS for 25 years now.
She was among those who received their vaccination on Tuesday.
“I was initially scared, but now that I have received my vaccine, I am going to encourage my colleagues to come and be next in line.”
Vaccinations for police force staff started on Monday, while the SANDF is yet to kick off their vaccination programme in Pretoria.
Captain Daniel Dhanarajan (48), a trainer attached to the SAPS Atteridgeville Academy with 22 years’ service, was also excited to get vaccinated.
“I feel very strong and relieved to know that my colleagues, family and I will be safe and guarded against the severe effects of this virus,” he told Record.
According to national police spokesperson Major General Mathapelo Peters, a total of 2 055 vaccines had been administered to police officers and support personnel at both the Orlando Stadium in Soweto and the Tshwane Academy in two days.
Covid-19 has been tough on the SAPS as 673 members have died of the virus.
“As of Tuesday, we had 32 565 members testing positive for the Covid-19 virus; while the number of recoveries stand at 30 955.”
Peters said while vaccinations were voluntary, the SAPS encouraged all its members to get vaccinated.
“Unfortunately, vaccinating our members does not mean we should stop adhering to non-pharmaceutical health and safety protocols.”
The below SAPS members cannot be vaccinated:
– Anyone who has contracted Covid-19 in the last 30 days
– Any person who has received a flu vaccine within 14 days
– Any member who has been already been vaccinated before the SAPS vaccination programme
She said the SAPS will ultimately have 108 registered vaccination sites across the country.
“Provincial roll-outs will commence on Thursday in eight provinces,” she said.
National health department spokesperson Popo Maja said 183 000 SAPS members were targeted, while the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was targeting 100 000 members for vaccination.
“We need them to maintain law and order and they have physical contact with public every day.”
The SANDF will also start vaccinations on Thursday.
SANDF spokesperson Simphiwe Dlamini said their vaccination roll-out programme will kick-off at the Waterkloof military medical centre situated inside the air force base at Waterkloof in Pretoria.
Dlamini said 16 vaccinations sites were identified for members, both uniformed and civilian as well as extended members of the military community.
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