Staff Reporter
Zimbabwe yesterday received 1 056 000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine bought from China.
The country purchased 1.2 million doses of Sinovac and had already received the first batch of 144 000. The country has also received a donation of 400 000 doses of Sinopharm and 35000 doses of India’s Covaxin.
Speaking while receiving the consignment yesterday, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister, Dr John Mangwiro said Zimbabwe will move with speed in vaccinating its people.
“This one is a delivery of Sinovac vaccine of 1 056 000 and it is part of the consignment of vaccines that was bought from China by the Zimbabwe Government. The first consignment of 144 000 arrived last week. This is a sign that we are moving forward and we are going to up the speed of giving out the vaccine to the people,” said Dr Mangwiro.
He urged people to come forward and get vaccinated according to their categories, revealing that the consignment was going to be followed by many other vaccines until the country achieve herd immunity.
Speaking during the same event, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Deputy Minister, David Musabayana appreciated the relationship that exists between China and Zimbabwe, thanking President Emmerson Mnangagwa for sourcing the COVID-19 vaccine.
“It gives us joy especially as Foreign Affairs and International Trade ministry because for us, this is consummation for the engagement and re-engagement philosophy and also the fact that His Excellency had focused on re-affirming relationships that existed with our all-weather friends like China, Russia and others. This gives us a lot of joy and comfort that we have leadership, His Excellency the President who saw it fit to create these very important networks.
“As you all know at the moment demand for vaccines is outstripping supply so the world over there is stamped to purchase these vaccines and the supply is constrained. But because of good leadership by His Excellency the President, Zimbabwe is one of the first in Africa to receive this vaccine,” he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Guo Shaochum, commenting on the consignment on his Twitter handle says China is doing its best to support Zimbabwe despite demand of the COVID-19 vaccines in China.
“Despite the huge demand for vaccines at home, we are doing our best to support Zimbabwe’s fight against COVID-19 because we are all weather friends and we keep our promise to ensure the accessibility and affordability of the vaccines particularly for developing countries,” he said.
As at 29 March 2021 69751 people had received their first COVID-19 vaccine shorts.
Meanwhile, as at 29 March 2021, Zimbabwe had 36839 confirmed cases including 34 617 recoveries and 1520 deaths.
