STAFF WRITER
GOVERNMENT says children between the ages of 16 to 17 are now eligible to get the Covid-19 jab.
This comes after specialist pediatricians approved its roll out, as the government moves to protect citizens against the deadly pandemic.
However, the Chinese made, Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine is the only one that has been certified for the vaccine programme in this age group.
“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 year group with the Sinovac Covid 19 vaccine, the protocol for the younger age groups is still under consideration,” the ministry of Health noted.
The health ministry has since issued notices to all provinces, secondary schools, colleges, universities and vaccination centres that they were now required to commence the vaccination campaign of this age group with immediate effect.
“The Covid-19 pandemic is still raging worldwide, and Zimbabwe is not spared. In the absence of effective medical and health interventions, while adopting physical distancing and masking, herd immunity remains the unmet need for the Zimbabwean population. The government is accelerating the implementation of the national vaccination programme,” said the ministry.
Zimbabwe has so far recorded 133 007 cases and 4 679 people who have succumbed to the pandemic.
The health ministry said as of October 31, 2021, Zimbabwe has reached a national coverage of 38 percent of the targeted population, which is 10 million people.
