adminTanaka Mahanya
CLOSE to 13 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines were administered in Zimbabwe by the end of 2022.
The ambitious Covid-19 vaccination blitz commenced in February 2021.
Despite mistrust around the Chinese manufactured vaccines, Sinopharm and Sinovac, Zimbabwe is currently ranked among the highest in Africa for vaccinating its citizens.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care Covid-19 situation update of December 31 showed that people were going in their hundreds to get jabs.
“Four hundred and thirty received the first dose on December 31, bringing the cumulative total for the first dose to 6 585 846.
“Seven hundred received their second dose bringing the cumulative total for second dose to 4 952 887 while 1 070 received their third dose bringing the cumulative total to 1 281 902,” the Ministry said in a statement.
Eyeing herd immunity, Zimbabwe has over 30 percent of its population fully vaccinated.
Companies took up the initiative by encouraging employees to get vaccinated in a move to bolster uptake.
In March last year, 12-year-olds were added to the Covid-19 vaccination in Zimbabwe.
The new campaign was aimed at rescuing a drive faltering due to vaccine hesitancy and complacency.
Meanwhile, as at December 31, 2022, the country had recorded 5 639 Covid-19 deaths since March 2020 when the disease was first detected in Zimbabwe.
Over 260 000 cases were recorded between March 2020 and the end of 2022.
“As of 31 December 2022, Zimbabwe had recorded 260 146 cases, 254 067 recoveries and 5 639 deaths.
“254 067 recovered between March 2020 and December 31, 2022.
“On December 31, 2022, two people succumbed to the disease, while 34 recoveries were recorded with 46 new cases having been found.
“Forty-six new cases (all local) and two deaths were reported today, while the seven-day rolling average for new cases rises to 29 from 26 (yesterday),” said the Ministry.
Online Reporter