The ManicaPost
Post Reporters
AT least 26 000 teachers in Manicaland are expected to be among those to be vaccinated during Stage Two of the first phase of the national Covid-19 vaccination programme.
President Mnangagwa launched the second stage of the first phase in Victoria Falls on Wednesday and also got vaccinated. So far, more than 45 000 people have been vaccinated across the country since the launch of the first phase of the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Harare on February 18.
No fatalities or major side effects have been recorded. Stage Two of the Phase One vaccine roll-out started last week targetting the clergy, teachers, the judiciary, the security services, people with chronic conditions and the elderly (those 60 years and above).
Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba, said officials have already compiled a list of all personnel to be vaccinated and are now waiting for the roll-out of the programme in the province.
By Wednesday, Stage Two of Phase One was yet to be launched in Manicaland, with the Provincial Epidemiology Disease Control Officer, Dr Munyaradzi Mukuzunga, saying the province was yet to take delivery of the vaccine.
However, Dr Mukuzunga said Manicaland has intensified training of health personnel to ensure a smooth roll-out of the programme in all parts of the province.
Chipinge District is ready to administer the second doses of Sinopharm vaccines, with the assistant District Development Co-ordinator, Mr Tedious Beto, saying everything is in place.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care is ready to roll-out the second stage of the Covid-19 vaccination programme. Those who took the first vaccination will be getting their second dose which is administered 28 days after the initial dose. This is also a chance for the frontline workers who failed to take the initial dose for various reasons to do so,” he said.
Speaking in an interview in Mutare last weekend, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa reiterated Government’s commitment to save lives through Covid-19 vaccination. She encouraged all Zimbabweans to take the Sinopharm vaccination, highlighting its efficacy.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the Covid-19 vaccines will ensure Zimbabweans’ safety amid threats of a third wave which has already affected some countries, including Kenya.
“Lives matters. We are faced with the third wave which was reported in Kenya. We do not know when it will hit Zimbabwe. If 10 million people are vaccinated in Zimbabwe, more lives will be saved.
“We all know the devastating effects of the second wave. lt claimed so many lives in the country, among them Cabinet ministers. Here in Manicaland, we lost our hardworking Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimbwa, who was working tirelessly for the development of this province.
“This alone goes to show that Covid-19 is real and we should not be complacent. We need to protect our lives and our loved ones by following prescribed World Health Organisation (WHO) and Government health protocols,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She said the administration of vaccines is not a new thing as children below the age of five are always taking them to prevent diseases like polio and measles.
“Our children are being protected from some of the killer diseases like measles because of the vaccines being administered to them.
“For Covid-19, vaccines will be available for everyone and we should all take them. We are happy to announce that from the more than 40 000 Zimbabweans who have been vaccinated so far, no fatalities or major side effects have been reported. We should not be misled by certain individuals, the Sinopharm vaccine is rated among the best Covid-19 vaccines in the world,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She encouraged people to continue wearing their face masks and staying at home as much as possible.
“Wearing of face masks is not meant to please President Mnangagwa or the police. We want to save lives because the lockdowns have been a painful experience for everyone. We want the economic wheels to continue turning and we will do everything possible to safeguard lives,” she said.
Turning to the misinformation on social media, Minister Mutsvangwa said people need to be wary of what they consume online.
“Social media is both good and bad, but we cannot avoid it. We call on everyone to circulate on social media the correct and good narrative of the Covid-19 intervention programme being done by Zimbabwe.
“We implore everyone to verify what is being published on social media. Some of the stuff is fake and meant to retard the country’s development. Most of the people peddling fake news on social media have sinister regime change agendas, but they will never succeed,” said the Information Minister.
