Local police get jabbed

GEORGE NEWS - An atmosphere of nervous excitement was in the air as numerous Garden Route policemen and women stood in line for their Covid-19 vaccinations on Tuesday morning, 27 July, at the Eden Cluster offices in George.

This is the first vaccination site in the Southern Cape being opened for police officials to receive their jabs, and Eden Cluster Commander Major-General Oswald Reddy encouraged all his colleagues to use this opportunity to protect themselves and the community.

During his post-vaccination press briefing, Reddy said he was saddened by the number of deaths caused by Covid-19 and appealed to all police members, as well as the community at large, to get vaccinated.

"I am pleased that we have launched the vaccination site here in George for the Southern Cape police. During the current financial year, 147 police members have succumbed to Covid-19 nationally and in the Western Cape we have lost nine members. This is no longer just statistics - it's real, it's people we know, family and loved ones. We are here to protect and serve the nation. That's why it's so important to get vaccinated in order to have a chance of survival," he said.

Eden Cluster Commander, Maj-Gen Oswald Reddy, received his vaccination on Tuesday morning.

"Is it over?" asked Da Gamaskop Cluster Commander, Brigadier Phumzile Cetyana, after receiving his vaccination.

A total of 63 836 policemen and women have received vaccinations countrywide and in the Western Cape the total stands at8 578.

In the province, 649 police officers have tested positive, 312 are in isolation and 19 in hospital. Nearly 300 local police members had been vaccinated by Tuesday afternoon.

Registered Southern Cape police members can now get vaccinated at the Eden Cluster offices every day from 08:00 until 14:00, after which registered family members over the age of 35 will be able to receive their vaccinations.

Southern Cape police spokesperson, Capt Malcolm Pojie, also stood in line for his vaccination.