Chronicle Editor
Harare Bureau
Zimbabwe is expected to take delivery of 1,5 million doses of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine in three batches, with the first consignment scheduled to arrive this afternoon while the last is slated for Saturday.
The Ministry of Healthy and Child Care confirmed the development.
“We are receiving another 1,5 million doses of the vaccine that were purchased by the Government of Zimbabwe,” reads part of the statement.
“They are coming in three batches and they will boost the country’s vaccination drive.”
Today, 516 800 shots are expected to be delivered through the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport at 1435hrs, 528 000 shots tomorrow at 1235hrs and the last batch of 455 200 is scheduled to be delivered at 1435hrs on Saturday.
This comes as 30 000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia are expected today.
The vaccines are being donated by Serbia, and that country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovic is expected to arrive to hand over the doses to Government.
Zimbabwe has won plaudits from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other countries for the way it has ensured vaccine availability.
Government set aside US$100 million for the purchase of drugs and to date, about 9 million doses have been secured through various facilities.
They are coming in batches as the suppliers are delicately trying to contain the huge demand of the same worldwide.
Zimbabwe is targeting to vaccinate at least 60 percent of the population for free.
Online Reporter