Grace Chekai
Vaccines were always there long ago and we still have them even now. It is very ridiculous to note that there are some people who still deny the positive results of vaccines. In late 2019 a new virus emerged from China which was given the name Covid-19 virus. This virus had to spread like veld fire to all continents in the world and up to now it has claimed the lives of more than 4 000 880 people. So far 184 941 844 people has been infected with the virus.
In Zimbabwe the invisible enemy has infected 56 014 people and claimed the lives of 1 911 people. The virus has led to children being orphaned and many people are losing their loved ones on a daily basis.
However, despite all these misfortunes brought about by this invisible enemy vaccine were discovered. These vaccines are meant to weaken the symptoms of the Corona virus. Zimbabwe was among one of the few African countries that was the first to get the vaccines and inoculated its people.
To date, Zimbabwe has administered at least 1,361,210 doses of Covid-19 vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs two doses, that`s enough to have vaccinated about 4.6 percent of the country`s population.. Zimbabwe Government hopes to inoculate at least sixty percent of the country`s 14 million people by the end of the year. This is very possible if the people are ready to comply and work together with the Government.
The Government is providing the jab free of charge although it is not forcing anyone to be inoculated. It is very wise for one to just get the jab.
It is very unfortunate that Government detractors who were quick to dismiss the vaccination program are the ones who were one of the people to be inoculated. The likes of self-proclaimed Journalist, Hopewell Chin`ono, opposition political party MDC Alliance Vice Chairperson Job Sikhala and another leader of an opposition political party Transform Zimbabwe Jacob Ngarivhume got vaccinated.
These Government Detractors are not even aware of the damage they have caused in the country. Some people are already defying the vaccines because of the negative sentiments that were disseminated by these Government detractors.
However, we applaud the Government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa which is working together with parliamentarians and church leaders in disseminating educative programmes on the importance of getting vaccinated.
Zimbabwe Council of Churches Director for Research, Innovations and Programme Development, Ronald Nare said that faith leaders have a responsibility to provide a fresh understanding and insights about these vaccines.
“We must mobilise faith groups to take direct actions to promote the well-being of children, families and the communities they serve.”
Our Government is working tirelessly to ensure that everyone gets the jab. Zimbabwe expects to receive two million Covid-19 vaccine doses this week and another 1.5 million next week as Government endeavours to meet the growing demand for the jabs amid a surge in cases and related deaths. As Zimbabweans we must cooperate and get vaccinated. It is for the good of all of us as a nation.
Zimbabwe has authorized the emergency use of a number of Covid-19 vaccines which are, Russia’s Sputnik V and China`s Sinopharm and Sinovac shots and also India`s Covaxin. All these Covid-19 approved vaccines are procured through the National Vaccine Procurement Fund managed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
It is therefore prudent for everyone to get the jab. These vaccines are keys to ending the pandemic. All Covid-19 vaccines currently available in the country have shown to be safe and effective at preventing Covid-19.
The vaccines help in keeping you from getting seriously ill or dying. It also protects people around you. The Covid-19 vaccine helps to build immunity. We need to get vaccinated. Our Government is trying all it can to ensure that we all get vaccinated and be free from the disease. Let us not listen to Government detractors like Chin`ono who are there to discourage us to get vaccinated but yet go nicodemously to be inoculated.
