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Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Health Reporter
Parents with children under five years who could have missed their routine vaccinations should visit their nearest health facilities for immunisation, as the country joins the rest of the region in commemorating the 8th edition of the African Vaccination Week, epidemiological and disease control director Dr Portia Manangazira has said.
Dr Manangazira said children would also receive Vitamin A supplementation and their growth would also be monitored during the commemorations which started on Monday and are expected to run until Sunday.
“All health facilities are offering child health services to all under five’s,” she said.
“Let us all do our part in preventing vaccine preventable-diseases in Zimbabwe as vaccinated communities are health communities.”
This year’s commemorations are running under the theme: “Vaccines work, do your part and slogan is Vaccinated communities, healthy communities.”
Dr Manangazira said the theme highlights the collective action needed to ensure that every person was protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
“It urges greater action on immunisation across Zimbabwe and indeed the whole African region, with a particular focus on spotlighting the role that everyone can play in this effort, from donors to individuals,” she said.
Dr Manangazira said this year’s commemorations coincided with the anti-cancer vaccine official launch, expected to take place in Manicaland next week.
“Government is also utilising the Africa Vaccination Week to highlight the need and importance of every girl between 10 and 14 years to be vaccinated against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV),” she said.
The African Vaccination Week is an annual event celebrated during the last week of April.
Its goal is to strengthen the immunisation programme by increasing awareness on the importance of every person’s need and right to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Online Reporter