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Members of the public should take the initiative to get vaccinated against infectious diseases that can be prevented with immunisation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.
A vaccine is a substance used to stimulate immunity towards a particular infectious disease or pathogen, typically prepared from an inactivated or weakened form of the causative agent or from its constituents.
In a statement, the WHO Zimbabwe said everyone should be involved in fighting infectious diseases which are vaccine-preventable.
“Families, healthcare professionals & public health officials must work together to help protect the entire community. We can end all vaccine-preventable diseases like polio and measles together. Vaccines work,” it said.
In Zimbabwe, like in most other developed countries, vaccination is common in children and has been used to stop infectious diseases including polio, measles, smallpox and tetanus.
The outbreak of COVID-19 however changed the pattern as adults were the ones at risk and needed to get jabbed, resulting in the myths and misconceptions which led to widespread vaccine hesitancy.
As a result, the country is battling to attain head immunity after a large section of the population responded to the initial panic and pandemonium and went to receive the first and second COVID-19 jabs.
Very few however have gone forward to get the third jab following the decline in infections and deaths as the disease burden lessened throughout the world.
Vaccination not only protects oneself, but also those in the community who are unable to be vaccinated because of health reasons.
New Ziana
Bongani Ndlovu