Feb, 18th 2021 – Zimbabwe has begun its Covid vaccination campaign, with Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, taking the first jab.
The country is rolling out the Sinopharm vaccine donated by the Chinese government. Chiwenga said he took the first shot to show the government’s confidence in the exercise.
Zimbabwe received 200,000 doses of Sinopharm on Monday as a donation from China’s government, joining Egypt and Equatorial Guineas as the first few African countries to get the vaccine. Another 600,000 is expected next month.
The first to get the vaccine, are public health workers, police officers, soldiers and prison officials
Zimbabwe aims to vaccinate 10 million people, and is still sourcing other vaccines to achieve this target. The target represents 60 percent the country’s population. Health officials say that they will achieve herd immunity.
Chimwega said, “The marked decline in new cases is vividly heralding the end of the second wave of the pandemic.”