Chronicle Editor
Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has assembled a team of experts drawn from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, research, clinical practitioners and academia to monitor the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Zimbabwe is among the first African countries to vaccinate its citizens against Covid-19.
The country recently received 200 000 Covid-19 vaccine doses from China with Vice-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga subsequently launching the national vaccination programme and becoming the first citizen to be vaccinated.
Frontline workers being vaccinated under the programme include health workers, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials, customs and immigration employees, journalists, members of the security sector, the elderly and those with underlying conditions.
Also being targeted are ports of entry staff, funeral parlour and Agritex personnel.
Bulawayo received 13 200 doses under the first phase, which is targeting to vaccinate 6 600 frontline health workers, including journalists.
In her post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the team’s recommendations will guide the country’s vaccination rollout programme at all times.
“Government has established a team of experts drawn from the academia, Ministry of Health and Child Care, and research and clinical practitioners to monitor the effectiveness of the vaccine.
“The team’s recommendations will guide the country’s vaccination rollout programme at all times,” she said.
“No major adverse reactions have been recorded to date, except for a single case of a minor reaction which manifested in a rash.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said as more vaccines are being procured, citizens must remain vigilant and protect themselves, their loved ones, communities and the entire nation.
Last week, China pledged to donate a further 200 000 doses to Zimbabwe, taking that country’s total donation of vaccines to 400 000 doses.
Over and above the donated 400 000 doses, another 600 000 doses of Chinese vaccines purchased by Government will be arriving in the coming weeks, and an additional 1,2 million doses are also on the way.
Russia, India and the United Kingdom have also pledged donations of various vaccines. Russia promised 20 000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine and India promised 75 000 doses.
Government has stepped up efforts to inoculate 10 million citizens. The inoculation of 60 percent of the national population will enable the country to achieve herd immunity.
National Covid-19 taskforce coordinator in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Agnes Mahomva said the first phase of the ongoing Covid-19 vaccination programme is progressing well countrywide with the uptake steadily increasing daily.
“The programme is being done in three phases, but it doesn’t mean you end and then wait to start the second phase. We just continue because we might have some health workers hesitating now and then opt to be vaccinated in the last phase because this is voluntary,” she said.
“We are very happy that when we started it wasn’t going on too well largely because of misinformation, but now it is picking up and it is going on well.
“We are expecting the numbers to continue increasing based on the many enquiries we are getting from the public, a clear indication that people are eagerly waiting for vaccination and that is good news.”
Dr Mahomva said Government continues to monitor data that is being received during the rollout plan as this will determine the return to normal life.
“The data helps us analyse our progress so that we are able to continue on the correct path, strengthen and move forward.
“This is why I say figures are significant because it helps us revisit our strategy if there are any shortcomings so that we continue to improve on our rollout programme,” said Dr Mahomva.
Medical expert, Dr Rita Dlodlo said it is important for citizens to get vaccinated to boost their immunity from Covid-19. — @mashnets
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