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Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, Senior Health Reporter 

JUST over two years ago, Zimbabwe received its first batch of Covid-19 vaccines which were rolled out immediately to combat the deadly virus which at that time was killing more than 30 people daily. 

So far, coverage rates have been going up with plans to have vaccination teams do rounds in communities to improve uptake. With a population of about 15 million people, Zimbabwe has so far recorded a total of 264 391 Covid-19 cases including 5 672 deaths.

According to the Covid-19 daily situational report, a total of 13 590 080 doses have been administered in Zimbabwe since the vaccination was first launched in February 2021.  This includes 6 866 710 administered as the first dose, 5 091 070 as the second and 1 638 300 as the third dose.

This is against the Government’s target of ensuring that at least 11 239 749 citizens get inoculated with at least two doses to achieve herd immunity. 

So far, first dose coverage stands at 61,1 percent, second dose at 45,3 percent while only 14,6 percent of eligible citizens have received their booster shots. 

“Manicaland, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces have the top three highest coverage rates for dose one at 75,8 percent, 73,7 percent and 71, 4 percent respectively. Manicaland province also has the highest coverage for all three doses which remains higher than the national average,” read the report. 

“The national recovery rate remains at 98 percent and active cases are at 355 with 29 of those being hospitalized. As of Sunday, Zimbabwe had recorded a cumulative total of 264 391 Covid-19 cases including 258 364 recoveries and 5 672 deaths.” 

The national Covid-19 coordinator Dr Agnes Mahomva said despite these milestones recorded over the past years, more funding is needed to get more people vaccinated as slow uptake was not pleasing. 

She said as long as Zimbabwe continues recording new cases and even deaths, vaccination is still a crucial public health measure as the cases may easily multiply overnight. 

“We are happy with the ever-increasing coverage of the Covid-19 vaccine coverage in Zimbabwe although the pace is not pleasing at all. I am happy to announce that coverage for dose one is slightly above 61 percent and there is a need to ensure we improve on other doses,” she said. 

Dr Agnes Mahomva

“Unfortunately the low figures for new cases and deaths have misled people into thinking we are no longer at risk but the fact remains, we all need to get vaccinated. We are working on seeking funding from treasury so that vaccination teams may go out into the community as uptake remains slow in our static stations at clinics and hospitals.” 

Dr Mahomva said the media should keep alive the Covid-19 story even if deaths and new cases go down.

 “We need media houses to help us get more people vaccinated, yes the coverage rate keeps improving but the pace is disappointing. We are not yet stable and we urge every eligible citizen aged above 12 years to get vaccinated so that they protect themselves and the rest of the country from the deadly effects of Covid-19,” added Dr Mahomva.

In its analysis of lessons learnt since the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines, the World Health Organization said: It is hard to quantify the levels of demand for vaccines, but information shared by a range of African countries indicates that mistrust and misinformation are driving down demand. Fighting misinformation that fuels vaccine hesitancy is by no means easy and low demand is contributing to low uptake. A few countries are struggling to administer even 50 percent of the available doses, yet many African countries are finding creative ways to drive up demand,” said WHO. – @thamamoe.