Trust Issues Blamed For Low Vaccine Uptake in Zim-Study

SKEPTICISM around the Chinese manufactured vaccines, the Sinopharm and Sinovac has to a greater extent hampered the uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa This is according to data that was gathered during a COVID-19 Rapid Assessment that was conducted by Pangea Zimbabwe AIDS Trust between September and October 2021. Zimbabwe is currently ranked among the highest in Africa in terms of vaccinating its citizens. However, a number of factors have hindered the country’s progress towards attaining herd immunity where an ambitious target of vaccinating 10 million citizens…

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Health Ministry Dismisses Viral Video Of Woman Claiming She Reacted To Vaccine

THE Bulawayo Metropolitan Provincial Medical Director (PMD),  Dr Maphios Siamuchembu has poured water on a video currently making rounds on social media of a 27 year old woman, Cleopatra Ncube from Cowdry Park in Bulawayo who claims to have developed an adverse reaction that led to her fingers and lower limbs drying up soon after getting jabbed with the Sinovac, a Chinese manufactured vaccine being administered in Zimbabwe. By Michael Gwarisa According to the viral video, Cleopatra took the vaccine on July 27, 2021 when health officials were conducting inoculations…

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

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…

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Ban On Unvaccinated Church Congregants Still Stands

Members from various churches gather at the women and girls symposium

THE Zimbabwean government has maintained that the ban on unvaccinated church congregants was still effective despite the high court having recently ruled giving churches temporary relief under the belief that that it was no longer mandatory for church members to get jabbed in order to attend church. By Michael Gwarisa Briefing journalists during post cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monca Mutsvangwa said the risk of transmission was still high in paces of gathering and the church gatherings would not exceed 50% of the churches’ holding…

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Red Cross Clinic Opens Free Vaccination Center

IN a move that is likely to boost vaccines uptake among Zimbabwean citizens, the Red Cross Clinic in Harare has opened up a vaccination site that is offering vaccination services free of charge. By Michael Gwarisa The center is situated at the Red Cross Clinic close to Copacabana Clinic in the capital and since the center opened its doors to the public, numbers between 150 and 250 are being vaccinated daily with indications on the ground showing that the numbers may triple in the not-so-distant future. Briefing Journalists during press…

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Zimbabwe Fulfills Pledge, Delivers 20 000 Vaccine Doses To Namibia

ZIMBABWE has handed over a total 20 000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine to the government of Namibia to assist the country’s fight against COVID-19. HealthTimes Reporter Zimbabwe also donated hand sanitisers, face masks, reusable surgical gowns, face shields and hand washing shields which were manufactured by local universities and companies as well as medicines manufactured by Zimbabwe pharmaceutical companies. The handover ceremony took place at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Namibia where the Deputy Prime Minister and minister of International relations, Honorable Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah received the donation. Giving…

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No Evidence Of Drug Interaction Between ARVs And COVID-19 Vaccines- MoHCC

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has says there is no possibility of drug interaction if a Person Living with HIV (PLHIV) takes the COVID-19 vaccine, hence persons with HIV and on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) should not hesitate to get the jab. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual Media Briefing on HIV and COVID-19 vaccines that was organized by the Zimbabwe Association of Church Related Hospitals (ZACH), Mr Paul Chinakidzwa the Health Promotions Manager in the Ministry of Health said the COVID-19 vaccines for which WHO has…

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Vaccines Not Responsible For Coronavirus Mutations and Waves Says WHO Zimbabwe

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) Zimbabwe COVID-19 Team Leader, Dr Lincoln Charimari has poured water on a common myth that COVID-19 waves and variants could be emanating from vaccines. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual media training on Fact Checking that was hosted by the Gender Media Connect (GMC) in collaboration with the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Dr Charimari said a lot of misinformation has been going on especially on social media regarding vaccines and coronavirus strains and waves. You must note that COVID-19 Waves and vaccines…

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Brain Drain Hampers City Of Harare Clinics Vaccination Efforts

HARARE local authority Clinics are finding it difficult to clear long winding queues of citizens who are coming forward daily to get inoculated. By Michael Gwarisa In most cases, the facilities are just serving 30 or less people, telling the remaining hundreds to consider a later date for vaccination. Even though the City has published a list of centers conducting vaccinations, it appears some centers have not been living up to their promise. A tour of the vaccination centers around the city show a grim picture characterized by long winding…

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UNICEF signs supply agreement for Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine

IN an effort to improve access to quality-assured COVID-19 vaccines, enabling the protection of frontline health care and social workers, as well as other high-risk and vulnerable groups the United Nations International Childrens Emmergency Fund(UNICEF) has supply agreement of the supply of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine. By Staff Reporter  In a press release UNICEF said UNICEF and Sinopharm have signed a long-term agreement for the supply of the BBIBP-CorV inactivated virus vaccine against COVID-19 on behalf of the COVAX Facility. Through the agreement, UNICEF will have access to up to 120 million…

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