Chronicle EditorVusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
THE public has been urged to activate their Covid-19 vaccination cards to avoid unnecessary inconveniences when travelling or when they are required to verify their vaccination status.
Last year the country modified its vaccination cards to also incorporate QR codes which can be scanned so as to assess one’s vaccination status in line with international standards where most countries are now requiring travellers to be fully vaccinated before entering their respective ports of entry.
Last week, the Ministry of Health and Child Care working with the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) decentralised the activation of the vaccination cards in the city so to ensure that they get a wider reach in the city.
Previously the activation in Bulawayo was being done at the Provincial Medical Director’s offices at Mhlahlandlela Government complex and the City Health Department offices at the Tower Block.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care, as part of the Covid-19 Vaccination roll out effort, created a secure Covid-19 Vaccination Card which provided for electronic authentication of the vaccination record.
The latest Covid-19 vaccination cards are issued with pre-printed QR Codes that require activation.
In the city of Bulawayo, the QR codes are activated at the following sites, Bulawayo Provincial Medical Director’s Offices, Mhlahlandlela Building, City of Bulawayo Health Services Department, Mpilo Central Hospital, United Bulawayo Hospitals, Ingutsheni Central Hospital, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Ekusileni Hospital and Mater Dei Hospital,” reads a notice from BCC.
Further, all the 19 BCC-owned clinics are now also activation sites.
Speaking during a stakeholders Covid-19 vaccine update meeting last week, BCC senior health promotion officer Mrs Sikhanyisiwe Siziba said it was essential for the public to take advantage of the decentralisation move.
A couple of weeks ago the province launched the second phase of mass Covid-19 vaccination exercise targeted at 12-15-year-olds amid growing concern that some residents are abusing sanitisers meant to curb the spread of the global pandemic.
Online Reporter