Staff Reporter
The country’s target to inoculate at least 60 percent of the population in order to achieve herd immunity is on course following the latest donation of 10 million Covid 19 doses from China yesterday.
The donation was in fulfilment of the Chinese President, Xi Jinping’s pledge he made at the November 21 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Ministerial Meeting in Senegal, to provide one billion Covid 19 vaccines to Africa.
Speaking to the media at State House yesterday, President Mnangagwa thanked China for the donation and said Zimbabwe now had adequate stocks to vaccinate its population.
“It is with profound joy and gratitude that I take this opportunity to inform the nation of His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China’s magnanimous decision to donate 10 million doses of Covid 19 vaccines to Zimbabwe. The assistance comprising four million Sinopharm doses and six million Sinovac doses is in addition to the two million doses Zimbabwe has received as donation since February 2021 from the People’s Republic of China,” said President Mnangagwa.
The President applauded China for assisting the country with affordable and effective vaccines. He added that the gesture from China represents compassionate leadership, absolute regard for human life as well as exemplary global solidarity in the face of the Covid 19 pandemic.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe had registered commendable progress in fighting Covid 19 and he urged all citizens to embrace the vaccination programme.
“As a result we have registered commendable and globally acclaimed progress towards achieving herd immunity. It is therefore incumbent upon us all as responsible citizens to fully embrace Government’s vaccination programme in order to have all people immunised and protected against the scourge,” said the President.
To date, the country has received 12 million doses from China and has also purchased its own vaccines to ensure that all eligible citizens are vaccinated against Covid 19 disease. As of yesterday, 4 183 395 have been vaccinated against Covid 19.
