The first consignment of covid-19 vaccines donated by India will be delivered today. The vaccines expected amount to 35000 of the 75000 Indian Covaxin Covid19 vaccines.
This Indian Covaxin vaccine is similar to the Sinopharm and Sinovac previously received from china in that it uses an inactivated form of the virus to generate the immune response in the recipient.
Commenting on the issues of the vaccines arrival, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Air Commodore Dr Jasper Chimedza, said:
“We are going to the delivery of 35000 doses of covid19 Covaxin donated by the Indian Government, and will be received by the president.”
He also added that the remaining batch of 40 000 vaccines will be delivered at a later undisclosed date.
Zimbabwe’s government is targeting to vaccinate at least 60 percent of the population (10 million people) to achieve herd immunity. In order to achieve this result the government is waiting on vaccines from a number of countries and companies.
Zimbabwe is among the first countries in Africa to vaccinate their citizens.
Approximately 55000 in Zimbabwe have received the vaccination thus far.