tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
GOVERNMENT will soon embark on an intensive vaccination programme targeting children who could not access immunisation services during the Covid-19-induced restrictions.
The programme will be rolled out in schools at the beginning of the second term.
Children will be inoculated against polio, measles, typhoid and tetanus, while adolescent girls will be vaccinated against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer.
Ministry of Health and Child Care health promotion manager for emergency programme immunisation, Mr Norman Dzirambi, said the programme will run for the next three months.
“Human Papillomavirus went up because a lot of girls missed vaccination in 2021 and 2022,” he said.
“This is why we have called for all children who are in Grade Five and above to get their first dose to bridge the gap. Subsequent doses will then be administered when they are due.”
World Health Organisation (WHO) Zimbabwe technical officer responsible for immunisation, Dr Maxwell Ruputse, said there was need to ensure that vaccination programmes continue without disruptions.
“For immunisation to take place, there should be three important components, that are the individual, the vaccinator and the vaccine,” he said.
“The biggest problem that is derailing the programme is sometimes these components are not always there at the same place and at the same time, as vaccines can be there but people may have attitudes towards it.”
Online Reporter