Tag: COVAXIN

WHO Suspends Supply Of Indian Vaccine, Covaxin

Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO), has with immediate effect, suspended the supply of the Indian manufactured COVAXIN shots following the outcome of an inspection in March 2022, where deficiencies and manufacturing related concerns were identified. By Michael Gwarisa The decision by WHO has also prompted Bharat Biotech, the manufacturer to immediately suspend production of Covaxin, a move that is set to interrupt the vaccination programs for countries relying on Covaxin to carry out immunisations. Countries that had approved the use of COVAXIN include Zimbabwe, Australia, Mauritius, Oman, Philippines, Nepal, Mexico,…

Read More

Restart Whole Vaccination Process, COVAXIN Recipients Told

Patricia Mashiri

THE COVID-19 Chief Coordinator in the President’s Office, Dr Agness Mahomva has urged Zimbabweans who received their first jabs of COVAXIN vaccine but failed to get their second doses to start afresh with a different one. By Patricia Mashiri She made this plea following indications that thousands of people who received their first doses of the COVAXIN vaccine in May and June when Zimbabwe received its shipment of 35,000 doses from India are yet to get their second jabs five months down the line. Speaking during a Science Cafe, Dr…

Read More

Exclusive!!! MCAZ Speaks On COVID-19 Vaccines Linked Reactions In Zim

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE commenced its national vaccination initiative in February, 2021, kickstarting a campaign that would later yield positive results in the country’s COVID-19 management matrix. Even though only 14% of the national population has been vaccinated to date, available Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) data shows that vaccination has been working in minimizing the risk of developing severe infections and deaths. However, since commencement of the national vaccination program, there has been speculation and skepticism around vaccination, vaccine hesitancy and vaccine phobia as citizens adopted a laid-back approach towards…

Read More

COVAXIN Jab Recipients Haven’t Received Second Dose Five Months Down The Line

Michael Gwarisa

GETTING the second dose of the COVAXIN vaccine is proving to be a mammoth task for thousands of Zimbabweans who received the first dose of Indian manufactured vaccine with evidence on the ground showing that majority who received their jabs in May haven’t received their second shots to date, HealthTimes has learnt. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has to date received 35,000 doses of the COVAXIN from the 75 000 doses that were pledged by the government of India at the beginning of the National vaccination program. The country is yet…

Read More

Sinopharm Suits Zimbabwe’s Cold Chain Capacity

Michael Gwarisa

UNLIKE other COVID-19 vaccines that were developed using  the Messenger Ribonucleic Acids (M-RNA) technology, vaccines manufactured using a killed/inactivated virus such as the Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN currently being administered in Zimbabwe do not require expensive subzero cold-chain infrastructure. By Michael Gwarisa The messenger RNA technology was deployed in the Pfizer, Mordena and other vaccines, making such vaccines unsuitable for hot climatic conditions such as the one in Zimbabwean unless the country installs a costly deep freeze airport warehouse, procures and modifies refrigerated vehicles and inoculation points to ensure the…

Read More

Zim COVID-19 Epidemic Curve Flattening – Dr Grant

Michael Gwarisa
Dr Grant Murewanhema

LOCAL Public Health Expert and Epidemiologist, Dr Grant Murewanhema has hinted that Zimbabwe’s epidemic curve was at the verge of flattening even though clustered sections of infections were still reported at community level. By Michael Gwarisa An epidemic curve, also known as an epi curve or epidemiological curve, is a statistical chart used to visualize the onset and progression of a disease outbreak. Presenting during an editors workshop that was organized by the National AIDS Council, Dr Grant said there was need to scale-up COVID-19 prevention interventions in  a bid…

Read More