admin
Herald Reporter
The first consignment of Covid-19 vaccine doses delivered through the global COVAX facility has arrived.
Under the facility, Zimbabwe got 943 200 Sinopharm doses, which are already being used in Zimbabwe.
The COVAX facility is a global partnership comprised of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and World Health Organisation.
It was established to facilitate equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines for all countries.
Under the COVAX facility, vaccines are sourced through contributions from over 20 countries with the top contributing countries being the United States, China, Germany, United Kingdom, European Union, Sweden, Canada and Saudi Arabia.
The consignment from COVAX will complement the over 11 million doses Government has acquired, mostly through purchase, but also as gifts from China, Russia and India.
Receiving the vaccines at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Friday, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Mangwiro said Government remains determined to keep up the vaccination programme.
“We have no intention to go without vaccines. We are on course to achieve herd immunity. We have been strategic from day one. Treasury has continued mobilising resources. We are quite excited with what we have done and we will not look back. This donation will go a long way in complementing our efforts. We thank the partners” he said.
“As a Government this is a welcome development to receive vaccines donated by the COVAX group.
“The whole world has been closed due to this virus and scientist found out that this pandemic can only be controlled by vaccination and this vaccination will come to nothing if other countries are not vaccinated, or any other individuals are not vaccinated.
“This is a very big gesture. The donors themselves are also fighting the sane disease, but they found it worth to put aside their problem and say let’s help our other friends by donating this vaccine.”
Dr Mangwiro said vaccination will allow the return of activities that characterised society prior to the emerging of the pandemic say adherence to Covid-19 protocol remains critical
“While Covid-19 vaccination will allow countries to open their economic activities, continued adherence to preventive measures to avoid the spread of the virus by wearing face masks, washing hands and respecting social distancing remain critical,” he said.
United Nations Zimbabwe resident coordinator, Maria Ribeiro, said it was commendable that nations had taken solidarity in efforts to defeat Covid-19.
“We are delighted to see the arrival of Covid-19 vaccines in Zimbabwe though the COVAX facility. This is an important and tangible act of solidarity from the international community that will bolster the admirable national Covid-19 vaccination roll-out by Government of Zimbabwe,” she said.
Ms Ribiero said the United Nations will continue working with the Government of Zimbabwe in fighting the pandemic and ensuring continued provision of essential services including routine immunisations.
The vaccine roll-out began in earnest on February 22 targeting health workers and other frontline staff.
It has now been opened to all Zimbabweans and plans are underway to start vaccinating teenagers in the 14-17 age group.
And the introduction of the teenagers in the programme is expected to help to push the numbers towards achieving targets.
As of Saturday, 3 106 102 eligible people in Zimbabwe had received their first dose of vaccines and 2 302 267 their second across the country.
Zimbabwe has been listed among 13 African countries that have reached the WHO target to fully vaccinate more than 10 percent of its population by the end of September, with more than 15 percent of the entire population estimated at around 15 million had received both doses and were thus fully vaccinated.
The more than 20,5 percent of the population that have now entered the vaccination programme with at least one dose and the 15,1 percent who have had both doses places Zimbabwe in the top four continental African countries, behind Morocco and Tunisia and around equal to South Africa.
Online Reporter