STAFF WRITER
THE College of Primary Health Care Physicians of Zimbabwe (CPCPZ) and Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians (ZCPHP) have bemoaned the low uptake of vaccination by elderly people living with chronic medical conditions.
This comes at a time health experts have cited the elderly as some of the group of people that are prone to the Covid-19 pandemic hence the call for them to be vaccinated.
In a joint statement, CPCPZ and ZCPHP said the vaccination coverage remained low despite a massive campaign by government.
“The Government of Zimbabwe has done a great job establishing the national Covid-19 vaccination program, including expansion to the private sector for a nominal fee.
“However, the vaccination coverage remains low, with over 15 percent of the targeted population having been fully vaccinated. We are particularly concerned that despite being prioritized, many elderly people and citizens living with chronic medical conditions are still not vaccinated,” read the statement.
The organisations further highlighted that while the last few weeks saw a decline in the number of Covid-19 cases, they were concerned that the number of deaths remains unacceptably high, with one of three people dying outside of health facilities.
“These deaths are commonest among the elderly and people living with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, high blood pressure, and heart disease.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), older people and those with underlying medical problems are more likely to develop serious illnesses when they contract the virulent disease.
Meanwhile, the organisations warned elderly people living with chronic medical conditions to avoid crowded places and minimize movement.
“We urge all citizens to do all that is possible to encourage and support their household members, the elderly, and those living with chronic medical conditions to get vaccinated,” the physicians said.
Lately, the country has been recording a decrease in Covid-19 infections though fatalities have remained high.
