Almost 8 000 health workers across Zimbabwe have been vaccinated since the start of the national Covid-19 vaccination campaign.
According to the latest Covid-19 statistical report by the Ministry of Health and Child Care,7 872 health workers were vaccinated, as of February 24, 2021.
“2 074 front line workers were vaccinated on February 24, as at 4 pm bringing the cumulative number of those vaccinated to 7 872,” said the health ministry.
These health workers are part of the first phase of vaccination that the government rolled out prioritising those who are at greatest risk from exposure and contracting the coronavirus.
Phase one will be done in two stages, covering health care workers and other frontline workers.
This phase of vaccinations was made possible through a donation of 200 000 Sinopharm vaccine doses from China.
The ministry of health said Zimbabwe has now recorded a cumulative of 35 960 confirmed Covid-19 cases.
Of that number, 32 410 people have recovered from coronavirus with 1 456 deaths.
“The national recovery rate now stands at 90.3 percent while people with active cases of Covid-19 went down to 2 094,” reported the ministry.
Zimbabwe is expecting another 600 000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine it purchased from China in March while the Asian country has pledged another 200 000 doses.
The country’s second phase of vaccination will cover priority groups such as those with the chronic illnesses and comorbidities such as Diabetes, High Blood Pressure including those who are 65 and above.
Phase three will cover the rest of the population.
According to health ministry, 50 new Covid-19 cases and eight deaths were reported within the last 24 hours.
“All were local cases and the seven day rolling average for new cases falls to 77 from 58 the previous day,” said the ministry of health
In her weekly update, Chief Coordinator for the National Response to Covid-19 Pandemic in the Officer of The president and Cabinet , Dr Agnes Mahomva said although Bulawayo and Harare remained the country’s hotspots, it was “however encouraging to see that the numbers in these metropolitan provinces are also going down.”
“The country’s epidemic curve continues to actually show a downward trend, this is a good indication that the national response is on the right path, the pandemic is being brought under control. Introduction of vaccines is going to actually further strengthen the national response and hence help speed up the national recovery,” Dr Mahomva said.
Meanwhile, the vaccination of journalists also started Monday in Bulawayo after Cabinet said they would be included among frontline workers to be vaccinated under Phase One, as they are also frontline workers.
