The Gauteng health department has raised concerns after a mobile vaccination team was allegedly robbed at gunpoint in Soshanguve on Friday.

In a statement, the department said their partner team Pulse Health, which was supporting the 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 at 13:30.

“The perpetrators fled with vaccination programme gadgets: two tablets and five cellphones belonging to the team.

“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,” the statement read.

In December last year, another mobile vaccination team was robbed at gunpoint at a pop-up vaccination site in Wonder City taxi rank in Soshanguve.

The department said the continued attacks on mobile vaccination teams, who are “taking the vaccine programme to the community”, are not only putting the lives of healthcare workers in danger but have a negative impact on the vaccination programme.

“The community needs to rise in defence of the vaccination teams as the situation is getting out of hand.

“All these incidents are happening at the times when the government is trying to increase vaccine access by taking the vaccination programme closer to the people.

“We call on all members of society to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure these perpetrators are brought to book.”

Rietgat police spokesperson Captain Stephen Malululeka said they were investigating a case of armed robbery.

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