By Daniel Chigundu
Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Mangwiro has told Parliament that the COVID-19 vaccination program is yet to reach the 100 000 mark.
Zimbabwe received about 200 000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine which is enough to inoculate 100 000 people.
The vaccination program started on the 18th of February with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga getting the first jab.
However, 22 days later the program has yet to reach 100 000 people. This is due to the alleged low uptake from those designated as frontline workers.
Speaking in the National Assembly, John Mangwiro said despite the low uptake, the program is going well.
“Vaccines that were received were 200 000 enough for 100 000 people. The first dose is given to an individual and the second one will be given in 28 days.
“So far, we have not reached the 100 000 mark for the frontline workers who were prioritised as follows; doctors, nurses and all those people who work in hospitals, uniformed forces and those who get in medical things, be it collecting dead bodies from anywhere or from roadblocks.
“We also prioritised journalists, Members of Parliament and those who work in mortuaries as our frontline workers. The process has been going on well but we have not finished,” he said.
The deputy minister also added that teachers might be considered under the frontline workers, ahead of school opening.
“We are realising that definitely, schools are going to be opened. The Committee is re-looking at that so that we can also extend the vaccination to the teachers but the teachers were on Stage Two of Phase One.
“Stage one was the frontline whom I have outlined. Teachers were on Stage Two of Phase One which we are going into,” he said.
More vaccines are on the way
According to Mangwiro, more vaccine doses are on their way and the government is making pick-up logistics.
“In terms of the number of vaccines that are coming, they are a lot lined up. We are going to pick some more as we go along stage by stage and we have confirmed orders.
“Sinovac is going to give us about 1, 2 million and Sinopharm about 600 000. We are in the process of arranging to pick those and they will continue after we finish the 200 000.
“What must be clear is we do not want to pile up the 10 million and our speed at which we are doing it may not be commensurate with the amount that we have piled up and we might end up losing,” he said. Get more Covid-19 Stats from CovidZW.info #WhereAreOurVaccinesZW #PeoplesVaccinesZW #OpenCovidContracts
