Police are frontline workers, must be given Covid-19 vaccine priority - SAPU
Updated | By Sinethemba Madolo
The SA Policing Union (SAPU) has called on government to consider the police as frontline workers and be given priority when any Covid-19 vaccines.
According to the union, more than 300 officers were lost by the end of December to Covid-related illness, with more than 21 000 cumulative cases and more than 900 active cases.
Sapu says police are not given the same attention as health workers, even though they frontline workforce in the fight against Covid-19.
ALSO READ: SACC: Govt must work with pharmaceuticals to ensure affordable Covd-19 vaccines
The unions' general Secretary Tumelo Mogodiseng says when the rollout plan was issued by government, police were not mentioned.
"We recently learned that when the vaccine are to be available police are not mentioned as frontliners.
"So we are making a call that police should be considered as frontliners who are exposed on a daily basis.
"They are at high risk, they are being exposed as equally as health workers.”
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize and a panel of experts have already outlined the plan to roll out the vaccine to South Africans this year.
Mkhize said government hopes to obtain a Covid-19 vaccine by February.
Show's Stories
-
WATCH: The best places to visit in Melville
We want to know what the people know...
The Drive with Rob & Roz 13 hours ago -
VIDEO: 'Boer Soek 'n Vrou' couple reveal baby's gender
Viewers got to know the couple in the 12th season of the show.
The Drive with Rob & Roz 14 hours ago