Editorial comment: Let’s embrace vaccination

AS Zimbabweans, we are known to be intelligent people who place a lot of priority on their health and life.

We religiously invest in our health just like the way we also invest in the education of our children.

That is why the majority of us heeded all the Government protocols, to stay at home, when Covid-19 hit us.

And, that is why we have been cooperating with the authorities, over the years, by getting vaccinated and taking heed of medical experts’ advice against cholera, typhoid and, of course, the coronavirus.

We have always demonstrated maturity by embracing expert advice from our health experts.

The response was overwhelming when we confronted Covid-19, as a united nation, with the majority of us receiving our jabs.

It is encouraging to note that people still adhere to the regulations despite a drop in new infections.

Their cooperation is both encouraging and a genuine reminder of how we all truly value our health.

It is also our hope that we will get the same response in the wake of the measles outbreak. Statistics on the ground show that there is a need for an accelerated approach towards vaccination against measles.

Statistics show there is a surge in the measles death toll.

There are genuine fears it will continue rising if our kids are not vaccinated in time.

Policy makers have urged the Ministry of Health and Child Care to step up and fight this measles outbreak.

However, the major stumbling block are some religious beliefs, which do not allow vaccination, against such diseases.

Most Apostolic sects have not been sending their children for vaccination.

This has prompted some parliamentarians, doctors and, the general public, to make a call for the enactment of legislation to make vaccination mandatory.

Their call, for the enactment of laws punishing parents denying their children access to vaccination, is a welcome development. In life, there are some people who are reckless to an extent that they don’t value the sanctity of life.

This should come to an end to ensure we save our future generations from measles.

It has also been noted that more than half of the deaths, recorded so far, were in Manicaland Province.

It’s high time we prioritise our health and, crucially, prioritise the health of our kids.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC), daily Measles Situation Report (SITREP), 172 new cases were reported on Sunday.

This is very sad since there are preventive measures some parents tend to overlook.

This outbreak can only be contained once we cooperate and embrace vaccination.

As a nation, we can’t continue losing young lives to diseases, when this can be prevented through vaccination.

Denying children access to medication and failure to safeguard their health is totally unacceptable.

Parents, who deny their children access to vaccination, should be punished.

Vaccination is the way to go and science has always proved to be correct.