By Health Reporter
Government has budgeted at least US$6,7 million for the COVID-19 vaccination plan set to commence this Thursday, 18 February 2021, targeting at least 49 000 health workers and other vulnerable groups.
Addressing members of the press, this Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Minister Monica Mutsvangwa confirmed the commencement of the vaccination exercise.
“The vaccination programme commences on February 18, 2021, on a voluntary basis and will be free. The aim of the first phase is to vaccinate 22 percent, 18,4 percent under Phase 2; 18,4 percent under Phase 3, thereby yielding a vaccinated population of nearly 60 percent of the population,” she explained.
Training of the trainers was said to have already commenced focusing on vaccine storage, communication, surveillance, vaccination monitoring and evaluation and waste management.
“Vaccination will take place at fixed outreach points and will cover 10 days in the first round and five days in the second round.”
The total estimated operational budget for COVID-19 vaccination over all the phases was said to be pegged at US$6 778 777 hence Government was coordinating public-private partnerships spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance and Development to ensure the successful implementation of this programme. The Governments of India, China, and the Russian Federation were so far supporting Zimbabwe’s vaccine programme.
The Information Minister added that the procurement of vaccines was an ongoing process in line with the set target. Research was also currently underway to ensure that suitable vaccines would be administered in Zimbabwe.
She indicated that the country’s approach was based on science and the procured immunisation would be registered by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe as required under the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act.
A national virtual launch of the vaccination campaign is in motion, vaccines are set to be distributed across the country following existing structures for other vaccines, which is from head office to the 10 provinces then to the 63 districts and the more than 1 800 service centres.
