Mob ruins jab launch

THE Covid-19 rollout in Southern Highlands on Friday was marred by an angry mob who tried to stop the vaccination programme.
They started throwing all types of “missles” and forcefully ordered health workers launching the vaccination programme to vacate the site in front of Mendi police station.
The crowd had waited patiently for the health workers to set up and decorate the launching area.
When the master of ceremony took the microphone, the crowd shouted and threw “missiles” but they were stopped by local leaders.
Lower Mendi local level government president and health chairman James Embia and Provincial Health Authority (PHA) public health director George Epei were shouted at when they tried to explain the launching.
The PHA received 4,900 AstraZeneca vaccines for frontline workers – health workers, teachers, police, Buiebi Correctional Services and staff at the Mendi School of Nursing.
About five speakers claiming to be youth representatives took the stage and said the people would not allow the vaccines to be rolled out as the vaccine had side effects such as infertility and blood clots.
The speakers said their loved ones were dying from curable diseases that were not addressed effectively and the Government was concentrating on the Covid-19 pandemic which they saw as a money sucking mechanism.
They said the vaccine did not cure the disease but only provided antibodies to help the immune system and it should be transported to Hela where Prime Minister James Marape came from and his people should be vaccinated first.
It was also a sad scenario when pastors were discouraging their congregation not to take the vaccines.
PHA curative service director Dr Martin Savu told the rowdy crowd that they (crowd) had the right to express their views but in a formal manner.
He urged the crowd to let the PHA explain the reasons behind the vaccination and to answer any questions.
He told the crowd that if they were still unhappy, the health workers would leave the venue.
The crowd reacted shouting “leave”.
Epei said though the crowd ignored the launching, they would go ahead with the vaccination.
“I am a Covid-19 patient that recovered and the case continues to rise and it is not a joke with people are making fun of it,” he said.
“The clock is ticking and so many lives are at stake.
“I will not bow to the crowd. I have talked and organised my officers after the incident and will go ahead with the vaccination programme.”