(Last Updated on February 18, 2021 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – Vice President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga who today received the first shot of the Sinopharm vaccine has urged the public to get vaccinated as the country rolls out the programme.
Chiwenga today became the first citizen to receive the recently donated Chinese Sinopharm vaccine in an effort to allay public fears over the safety of the jabs.
Addressing the public after getting the shot, Chiwenga said the event marked the beginning of Zimbabwe’s ambitious goal of vaccinating at least 10 million citizens.
“As you are aware that Zimbabwe received its initial vaccine of 200 000 vaccines from the People’s Republic of China, today marks the launch of the vaccine programme that is set to achieve a head immunity of 10 million Zimbabweans.
“The roll-out programme which I have just mentioned will be administered to all the frontline workers that is the health services, ZIMRA, immigration officials and the health staff of the security services,” said Chiwenga.
He added his presence together with other senior government officials was to inspire confidence in the vaccine.
“My presence here today with some ministry of health officials including my deputy is to exhibit confidence in the Sinopharm vaccine, therefore I urge all Zimbabweans to be vaccinated,” he added.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa also took to social media to reiterate that the gesture by the Vice President showed that the vaccine is safe.
“Thank you to Vice President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga for showing Zimbabwe that this vaccine is safe for all our people. This is a historic moment in our country’s fight against this virus,” said Mnangagwa.
Zimbabwe launched its vaccination programme today which is aiming at vaccinating 10 million citizens to achieve herd immunity.
The government has said more vaccines are going to be procured in the following weeks from countries that include the United Kingdom, Russia and China.