Tanzania now approves COVID-19 vaccination

By Osoro Nyawangah, DODOMA Tanzania

Tanzania’s President Samia Hassan on Friday approved the importation of COVID-19 vaccines to the country.

The President announced that international organizations and embassies are now allowed to bring in the vaccines so that their employees and citizens can receive the jabs.

"Embassies and International Organizations have been allowed to bring in the vaccine for their citizens and workers to comply with the procedures of their countries and organizations as well as to eliminate disturbance in their work because of not being vaccinated," she said.

The move is seen as a bid to have international organizations and embassies comply with the set procedures in their respective countries.

She however announced that the vaccines would be delivered in a manner that will be coordinated by Tanzania’s health ministry.

Samia made the announcement as she received recommendations from the COVID-19 Committee at the Dodoma State House.

She also received recommendations of the work plan for the coordination of vaccine provision presented by the committee of experts she formed for advising the Government on the response to the pandemic.

In the recommendations, the committee proposed various ways that will enable the government raise funds from within the national budget and various development partners including international organisations and the private sector for medical equipment, training and coverage.

On May 17 this year, the committee completed the task of conducting an assessment of the disease and submitted a report to President with a total of 19 recommendations.

President Samia announced the formation of the committee on April 6, a few weeks after her inauguration, with a strong emphasis on fighting the pandemic through scientifically method.

Tanzania is one of a handful of African countries that have not yet received vaccines, according to the World Health Organization.

The government reported 509 infections and 21 coronavirus-related deaths before it stopped reporting cases in May 2020. The experts have advised the government to resume publishing accurate statistics. - Africa