Zimbabwe ready for massive COVID-19 vaccination programme

HARARE, Zimbabwe

Vaccination centres in all districts have now received their allocations of the first batch of Sinopharm vaccine against Covid-19 and are ready for the nationwide vaccination programme that continues from today.

Health and Child Care Minister, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga led from the front and took the first jab

A ceremony to mark the start of the vaccination programme, and to assure citizens of the safety of the vaccine, was held in Harare last Thursday and 39 people including eight journalists, were inoculated.

Health and Child Care Minister, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga led from the front and took the first jab followed by Health Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro.

Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces received their share of doses on Friday, with provincial medical directors confirming receipt of their shipments, and the deliveries had been subdivided and sent to all districts by yesterday.

Mashonaland West province received 11 192 doses while Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, and Midlands received over 44 000 doses, Manicaland received over 20 000 doses and Masvingo 22 000 doses.

Health and Child Care Ministry spokesperson Mr Donald Mujiri yesterday said it was all systems go for the massive vaccination programme ever.

“All the country’s districts have now received their vaccines,” he said. “The provinces and the districts are ready for the vaccination programme which starts with health workers. Their staff have been trained and we encourage everybody who can, to take the vaccines.”

The vaccination programme, which is expected to last 10 days under the first phase, is voluntary.

Zimbabwe plans to source vaccines for 10 million people from China, India, Russia and the United Kingdom, among others, to ensure many people are vaccinated.

India has pledged 75 000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

The Sinopharm vaccine being used for the programme that continues from today, was donated by China and will cover 100 000 people as two doses are needed for each person.

All health care workers and other frontline staff in the security sector and immigration department Will be the first to receive the vaccine.

Zimbabwe’s target is to achieve a 60 percent herd immunity, which can only be achieved when 10 million people have been vaccinated.

The vaccination programme starts with those at high risk of infection and these are largely health workers and some security officers. The next stage will include those at high risk of dying if infected and these are mainly the elderly and those with co-morbidities.

The education sector will also be prioritised next in the second phase before the programme is rolled out to the rest of the population that is at low risk in the final phase.

Zimbabwe has received praise from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the way it has responded to the pandemic.

Over 35 000 cases tested positive but more than 32 000 people have recovered while 1 432 had died as at February 20. Active cases are now just over 2 000.

But experts and Government officials warn that if citizens lose guard, more cases could still be recorded.