The International Monetary Fund, (IMF) and the World Health Organisation, (WHO) have rated Zimbabwe among the best countries in the world when it comes to the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines.
In their comprehensive joint database tracking the number of COVID-19 vaccines secured through different channels, the organisations gave Zimbabwe a rating of around 98 per cent.
This is based on Zimbabwe’s efforts which have resulted in the payment for around 85 per cent of the vaccines required for the national programme.
In that regard, Government approved strategies to scale up the vaccination programme so as to attain herd immunity.
Speaking at a press briefing, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said there will be extending the vaccination programme to private hospitals and private clinics to complement Government efforts.
“Continued collaboration with the Security Sector to assist in the vaccine rollout; increasing outreach teams for hard-to-reach areas, from an average of two to four teams; increased provision of transport and fuel for the outreach teams and reviewing the payment model of allowances for the vaccinators to be based on the number of persons vaccinated;” Mutsvangwa said.
Some of the strategies designed to accelerate the vaccination programme include; using non-medical staff such as data capturers to free nurses so that they concentrate on vaccination; and the extension of the vaccination programme to clinics in higher and tertiary learning institutions.
“Cabinet is grateful to the private sector players who are partnering Government in its quest to have the citizens vaccinated. SEED-CO has managed to vaccinate 98% of its employees and has extended the vaccine offer to Government,” she said.
Zimbabwe is among the three best countries in Africa handling COVID-19 vaccination with the other two being Morocco and Egypt.
