SINOPHARM Archives - Page 2 of 4

Zimbabwe Receives 2 Million More Vaccine Dosses From China

July 8, 2021July 8, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

A total 2 million more doses of the Sinovac vaccine have arrived from China. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking soon after arrival of vaccines, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube said over 4 Million doses of vaccines have been received in the country every since the Vaccination program commenced in February this year. The latest batch signifies our commitment to order more vaccines for the benefit of the nation,” said Minister Ncube. The Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Mangwiro said, ” We are aware about…

Zimbabwe Should Rethink Vaccine Deployment Strategy

June 15, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE has been urged to re-look its national vaccination distribution strategy in order to increase uptake and move close towards vaccinating at least 60 percent of the population. By Michael Gwarisa The country commenced vaccinating its citizens in March 2021 following a delivery of the Sinopharm doses from the Republic of China. Even though at first, there was vaccine hesitancy more people are now coming forward willingly to get vaccinated. However, there been reports of shortages of vaccines dosses across the country of late. Immunologist and Medical Expert, Dr Tinashe…

Rejecting Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Unscientific

June 11, 2021June 11, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

THE decision by the Zimbabwen government to reject the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on the grounds of safety and storage issues might not be the in the best interests of citizens and lacks the scientific evidence to back the reasons up, a leading local Immunologist has said. By Michael Gwarisa This comes after revelations that the technology that was used to develop the Sputnik V vaccine that was recently donated by Russia to Zimbabwe is the same as the one that was used to develop the Johnson & Johnson Vaccines…

Zimbabweans Risk Incomplete Vaccination

May 29, 2021 Healthtimes

THE prevailing shortages of first doses of vaccines being administered in Zimbabwe could result in majority of citizens being partially vaccinated if something is not done urgently, a Public Health Expert has warned. By Tanaka Moyo There have been widespread and confirmed reports of shortages of first dosses of the Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines especially around urban poly clinics resulting in people being turned away without getting jabbed. In an interview with HealthTimes, Mr Itai Rusike, the Executive Director for the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) said the issue…

Zim to receive more 500 000 vaccine doses

May 27, 2021May 27, 2021 Patricia Mashiri

ZIMBABWE is set to receive 500 000 Sinopharm vaccine doses which were procured from China in June to boost the vaccination programme which is currently underway in the country. By Patricia Mashiri Speaking during a Cabinet briefing Senator Monica Mutsvagwa, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services said they were expecting the vaccines in the country next month. Regarding vaccine procurement, the public is informed that delivery of the 500 000 Sinopharm vaccine doses which were ordered from China is expected in June. “Government continues to urge the public…

#TalkingCOVIDWithDrGrant: Different Variants, Similar Control Strategies

May 23, 2021 Dr Grant Murewanhema

THE Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative virus for the disease better known as COVID-19. It belongs broadly to a class of viruses known as coronaviruses, and people are more familiar with the previous SARS and MARS outbreaks. None of these ever got to the scale of the current COVID-19 pandemic. By Dr Grant Murewanhema Viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, which spread rapidly, also multiply very rapidly in a process called replication, where copies of similar virions continue to be made. Now, as you will be familiar…

#BREAKING: WHO Approves Sinopharm Vaccine For Emergency Use

May 7, 2021 Healthtimes

WHO today listed the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, giving the green light for this vaccine to be rolled out globally. The Sinopharm vaccine is produced by Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological Products Co Ltd, subsidiary of China National Biotec Group (CNBG). WHO Communication “The addition of this vaccine has the potential to rapidly accelerate COVID-19 vaccine access for countries seeking to protect health workers and populations at risk,” said Dr Mariângela Simão, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Health Products. We urge the manufacturer to participate in the COVAX…

Sinopharm Suits Zimbabwe’s Cold Chain Capacity

April 30, 2021April 30, 2021 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…

Zim COVID-19 Epidemic Curve Flattening – Dr Grant

April 27, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

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…

#LongReadAhead: Vaccines Efficacy And Effectiveness Explained

April 19, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

THE arrival of the coronavirus on our shores has to a larger extent planted an appetite for reading and commenting around health-related issues even amongst non-medical people. All of a sudden everyone is now a public health or medical analyst and this is largely due to information gaps present in our communities. By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organisation (WHO) identified information and communication as a key pillar to the pandemic response amongst the eight pillars the world heath body has set. However, when not managed and disseminated well, information…