The ManicaPost
Post Reporter
WITH one million Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines procured from China arriving yesterday, the total number of doses brought into the country to date has risen to over five million.
The latest consignment was received by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube and Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
Zimbabwe continues to make steady progress towards its target of vaccinating 10 million people to achieve herd immunity and Government yesterday confirmed the purchase of an additional 6,5 million vaccines.
This takes the total number of doses acquired to just over 12 million, with the country also joining the African Union (AU) vaccine facility after paying US$7,5 million.
The country is set to get about five million jabs and more than one million doses from the Covax facility, taking the total number of doses to close to 20 million.
The Second Republic has set aside US$100 million for the purchase of vaccines and US$93 million has so far been used to acquire around 18 million jabs, with Prof Mthuli Ncube saying funds for importation of vaccines were coming from last year’s surplus.
Prof Ncube said the vaccination programme on the ground had picked up speed, with Dr Mangwiro adding that the vaccines will be distributed across the country.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has launched a programme that will see prisoners and prisons staff being vaccinated.
ZPCS Commissioner General Moses Chihobvu said vaccination is a safe way of saving lives, with 17 people, including prisoners and staff members, having succumbed to Covid-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic.
