By Nyasha Chuma
The ministry of Health has approved Covid-19 vaccination of the 16 to 17 years-age group in a bid to accelerate implementation of national vaccination programme.
Zimbabwe aims to achieve herd immunity by end of December.
To date the country has recorded 132 926 cases and 4 7 675 people have succumbed to the disease.
The ministry said in a statement that it had taken the decision after a recommendation from specialist paediatricians. The protocol for the younger age groups is still under consideration.
“Globally and nationally, public health discussions have been on-going regarding extending vaccination to children and other ‘special groups such as pregnant and breastfeeding mothers,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Based on the available scientific data in line with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe guidance, the specialist paediatricians have recommended the vaccination of the 16 to 17 years-age group with the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine. The protocol for the younger age groups is still under consideration,” the ministry added.
The ministry further said “all the provinces, secondary schools, colleges, universities and vaccination centres are hereby required to commence the ‘vaccination campaign of this age group with immediate effect. For the avoidance of doubt the only vaccine type eligible for this age group is the SINOVAC vaccine.”
The case for offering covid-19 vaccines to healthy teenagers is less compelling than the case for routine childhood vaccinations, which have direct benefits for individuals and many years of safety data.
Healthy teenagers are at extremely low risk of hospital admission and death from covid-19 infection, although vaccines do protect against symptoms such as headache and fatigue that can last beyond 12-16 weeks in a very small proportion of teenagers.
