Only 57 Frontline Workers Vaccinated In 24Hrs Nationwide

The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has reported that a paltry 57 frontline workers were vaccinated for COVID-19 countrywide in the past 24 hours.

In a statement released on the 17th of March to update the nation on the coronavirus trend in the country, the MoHCC expressed concern over the development. Read the statement in part:

Vaccination of frontline workers continues in static sites in all the provinces to reach the targets as 57 were vaccinated (As @1600hrs today – 17 March 2021: only Manicaland Province reported) bringing the cumulative vaccinated to 39 607.

The government aims to vaccinate at least 10 million people in a bid to attain community or herd immunity.

Frontline workers including health caregivers, media personnel, immigration officers, and members of the security sector were the first to be vaccinated in the country.

The report comes when the second batch of COVID-19 vaccines has arrived from China and is expected to kickstart the country’s second vaccination rollout programme across the country.

New coronavirus cases and deaths have, however, been going down in the recent past following strict measures such as the national lockdown.

Authorities argue that vaccination and other preventive measures recommended by health experts will see the country flattening the coronavirus curve.

Despite the government’s great emphasis on the importance of vaccination, authorities are insisting that vaccination is voluntary.

Nevertheless, President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently warned that those who were refusing to take the vaccine risked missing out on employment opportunities and other services.

Zimbabwe had as of 17 March 2021 officially recorded a total of 36 552 coronavirus cases, 1 508 deaths, and 34 136 recoveries.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care also reported that on 16 March 2021, there were 46 hospitalised cases of which seven (7) were asymptomatic, 26 were mild cases, 11 were in a severe condition while two (2) were in intensive care units (ICU).

More: Ministry of Health and Child Care