The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care has assured vaccine hesitant communities that their privacy is guaranteed during the ongoing fourth round of polio vaccination.
One of the groups that have previously shown reluctance to accepting vaccination are members of some apostolic sects.
In an interview, Manicaland provincial health promotions officer, Mrs Agnes Mugumbate assured people that may have concerns about their privacy during the vaccination process that they will be protected.
“The ongoing fourth round of polio vaccination is a crucial step to protect children from the crippling disease. MOHCC understands that some people may have concerns about their privacy during the vaccination process and we assure them that their personal information will be handled with utmost confidentiality and respect. We urge all parents and caregivers to take their children who are under five years old to the nearest health facility or mobile team for the oral polio vaccine,” she said.
Mrs Mugumbate also urged all parents and caregivers to cooperate with the vaccinators and ensure that their children receive the oral drops that can protect them from the crippling disease.
She also assured that the vaccine is safe and effective, and has no side effects.
The four-day campaign is an extension of an ongoing exercise that started in 2022.
Recently, neighbouring Mozambique recorded an outbreak in polio, thus prompting countries in the region to conduct supplementary polio campaigns for protection.
“To protect children under five years, MOHCC is conducting rounds of the Oral Polio Vaccination (OPV) campaign, targeting all provinces in the country. The first two rounds were conducted in 2022. The third round was in May this year and this is the fourth round. However, having received the first three doses does not mean that the child should refrain from receiving this particular dose. Every child should receive the dose since it is an extended dose of the ones they have already received,” she said.
Mrs Mugumbate said to ensure that every child is reached, door-to-door campaigns are also being conducted.
She said these will complement the campaigns that are also happening at health.
When The Manica Post visited Chikanga Clinic this morning, mothers were queuing to have their children vaccinated.
Sister-in-Charge Emily Chitsiku said they expect to complete the immunisation campaign by the end of the week.
