By Staff Reporter The second round of the national polio vaccination campaign begins today with the Health and Child Care Ministry anticipating to vaccinate over 4 million children. Polio is a dangerous disease that can cause paralysis or death of children. The Health Ministry in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), and many partners last month started the nationwide polio vaccination campaign using the novel OPV type two (nOPV2) vaccine following the confirmation of circulating poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in Zimbabwe. The two phased campaign aims to…
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#Breaking: Zimbabwe Targets Two Million With Oral Cholera Vaccines
By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to provide temporal protection against Cholera infection and severe cholera symptoms, Zimbabwe will soon be rolling out a targeted Oral Cholera vaccination program in the 57 affected districts, HealthTimes has learnt. Zimbabwe is among the 18 countries battling Cholera in the world and according to the Africa Centre for Diseases Control (Africa CDC), the widespread Cholera crisis on the continent has pushed demand for Oral Cholera Vaccines (OVC) to unprecedented levels. However, Zimbabwe has since made headway in terms of procuring vaccines and mapping…
Read More‘January disease’ vaccine revives Goromonzi cattle farmers’ hopes
By Kuda Pembere recently in Goromonzi IT is 11 pm in the scotching sun as cattle jump into Mwanza Diptank in Mwanza Village,Goromonzi district, their usual place for dipping to fight against tickbone disease. Diptanks also known as plunge dips also provide the most effective and efficient method for controlling ticks in animals against ticks, flies, mites, lice and other external parasites. An hour earlier, delegates from United Nations quadripartite agencies of the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and…
Read MoreA Mother’s Unwavering Commitment: Ryan’s first Polio Vaccination
What seemingly started like an ordinary morning for Whyy Mutumbunzou (21), with her routine house chores, including caring for her only child, 1-year-old Ryan, took an unexpected and thrilling turn. A radio broadcast message from the MoHCC encouraging all mothers and caregivers to bring their children under five years for the 4th round of the Polio vaccination campaign. By Own Correspondent Despite not knowing what Polio was, Whyy enthusiastically gathered her belongings and walked briskly with her son to the nearest clinic, Hatcliff Family Health Services. For Whyy, the choice…
Read MoreThe Big Catch Up: Zimbabwe Launches Integrated Vaccination Drive To Cover Lost Ground
IN a move that is set to catapult Zimbabwe’s vaccination coverage to dizzy heights, the country has already started implementing an integrated vaccination drive in communities mainly prioritizing Human papillomavirus vaccines (HPV), COVID-19, Tetanus and Diphtheria (DT). By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s integrated vaccination drive is in line with the “The Big Catch-up”, a targeted global effort to boost vaccination among children following declines driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign is being led by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates…
Read MoreWHO Publishes New COVID-19 Vaccination Guidelines
THE World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has since revised the roadmap for prioritizing the use of COVID-19 vaccines, to reflect the impact of Omicron and high population-level immunity due to infection and vaccination. By Staff Reporter The roadmap continues SAGE’s prioritization of protecting populations at the greatest risk of death and severe disease from SARS-CoV-2 infection and its focus on maintaining resilient health systems. The roadmap newly considers the cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination for those at lower risk – namely healthy children and…
Read MoreZim preps intensified measles, polio vaccination
PREPARATIONS for an intensified measles and polio vaccination campaign are well on course as the Ministry of Health and Child Care commenced the training of trainers in Masvingo on Monday. This comes on the heels of the declaration of a measles outbreak in Mutasa district. The Health Ministry is conducting a Intergrated meeting on Polio Campaign & EPI Training of Trainers workshop on Supplementary Immunization Activities with support from UNICEF ZIMBABWE and WHO Zimbabwe. The participants were drawn from the country’s 10 provinces. “There are planned measles and polio campaigns…
Read MoreTrust 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…
Read MoreZim Inks US$6.6 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment Grant
ZIMBABWE’S finance ministry, the World Bank Group, as the Fund Administrator of the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program and the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund have singed a US$6.6 Million COVID-19 response grant with the aim of supporting the deployment and management of COVID-19 vaccines. By Staff Reporter According to the World Bank, financing for the project, which comes in the form of a grant, aims to support the deployment and management of COVID-19 vaccines and strengthen related health system capacity in Zimbabwe. the grant will ensure adequate…
Read More#BREAKING: Zimbabwe To Extend Vaccination To 12 and 15 Year Olds
THE Zimbabwean cabinet has announced plans to vaccinate 12 and 15 year olds as part of plans to expand the vaccination program and attain herd immunity as the COID-19 pandemic gradually transforms into an endemic. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes a few months after government extended vaccination to 16 year olds. Briefing Journalists during a Post Cabinet Media Briefing in Harare, Joram Gumbo, the acting information minister said. “Based on advise from the paediatric association of Zimbabwe special COVID-19 vaccine group, and therefore has resolved to extend COVID-19 vaccination…
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