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Bongani Ndlovu, Chronicle Reporter
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care has extended the Covid-19 vaccination programme to private health facilities at hotspots around Zimbabwe.

The institutions have been allowed to charge a nominal fee of injection by doctor of $434,35, an injection by a nurse at $220,64.

The Government is on a massive vaccination drive and more than one million people have received their first jab, as the country continues in its drive to attain herd immunity.

Secretary for Health and Child Care, Dr Jasper Chimedza in a statement said vaccines were now extended to private hospitals, clinics and medical aid societies and they are allowed to charge a nominal fee.

“The implementation of the vaccination programme which was being done mainly by the public sector is now being extended to private health facilities starting with private hospitals, clinics and private medical aid societies.

“The Covid-19 vaccination remains free in public institutions and the private sector. However, the private sector is allowed to charge a nominal administration fee of injection by doctor using AHFoZ (Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe) claim number 90070, $434.35, an injection by a nurse 90072, $220.64,” said Dr Chimedza.

He said the private sector should not charge more than the stipulated administration fee.

Dr Chimedza said: “The private sector will access the vaccines, syringes and registers and vaccination cards from the Provincial Medical Doctors (PMDs) and City Health Directors who will be monitoring the implementation of the programme, the recruitment of the private sector into this Covid-19 vaccination, daily reporting of statistics to the next level through the PMDs and City Health Directors and reporting of adverse events following immunisation if any.”

Dr Chimedza said the Government wants to intensify the vaccination drive in border towns, cities, rural communities, learning institutions and prisons among other places.

“Zimbabwe started the rollout of vaccines on the 22nd February 2021 for the response to Covid-19.

“The vaccination programme was implemented in phases starting with the frontline workers, the elderly and people with co-morbidities.

“The Government has procured additional vaccines for response to Covid-19 outbreak in the country and the campaign is now being extended to the rest of the population throughout the country with emphasis on, hotspots throughout the country, border towns, towns and cities, rural communities, learning institutions, market places, prisons and mining and farming communities,” said Dr Chimedza.

Zimbabwe has authorised the use of the Chinese Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines, as well as Russia’s Sputnik V and India’s Covaxin. To date, the country has received 4,2 million vaccines and it is expecting to soon receive 1,5 million doses.

To date, a total of 1 184 435 people have received their first dose against Covid-19, while 643 203 have received the second dose.

As at July 19, Zimbabwe had 85 732 confirmed cases of Covid-19, including 55 714 recoveries and 2 697 deaths. — @bonganinkunzi