HARARE – Zimbabwe will introduce an electronic register that enables vaccination teams to identify and follow up on those who have not received their second or third jabs amid high vaccine hesitancy.
This comes as the effectiveness and safety of vaccines is under scrutiny.
China which has relied on domestically produced shots, has seen dozens of protests across the country including in the capital, Beijing, and financial center Shanghai—inspired by anger at the government’s zero-COVID policy and the extreme lockdowns imposed to control outbreaks of the coronavirus.
There has, in a sense, been a destabilization of confidence in vaccines.
In Zimbabwe, as at 4 December 2022, a total of 6 574 434 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered, while 4 924 009 people had received their second dose, and 1 253 395 their third dose.
This translates to a national coverage of 58.5%.
Cabinet said on Tuesday that the country should continue pushing for higher vaccination coverage in order to provide maximum protection to all citizens.
“A strengthened vaccination plan and electronic register that enables vaccination teams to easily identify and follow up those who have not yet received their second or third dose is due for introduction, and the Ministry of Health and Child Care will update the nation progress made,” Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told a post Cabinet briefing.
“This approach will not only help to increase the COVID-19 vaccine uptake, but will also strengthen the under-five year old Expanded Programme on Immunisation.”
