COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitation, The Govt Must Engage The People To Get Better Results - MDC Alliance Health Secretary

The MDC Alliance Secretary for Health Dr Henry Madzorere has said for the government to achieve success in getting masses vaccinated against COVID-19, they should send experts to engage the masses about the vaccine in question, NewsZimbabwe reports.

In an exclusive interview with the publication, Madzorere stated that the government did not consult relevant stakeholders before the vaccinations began which might be one of the reasons why people are hesitating:

There was not much consultations with health workers and other public health professionals. There is no consultation with the general masses and even the national immunisation technical advisory group.

The recommendations they were giving to government were not even probably taken into consideration. The procuring of the vaccine should be transparent so that people will not suspect looting and corruption

He said for the government to get better results they should send experts to engage the people on the vaccinations:

For the government to reverse this very high vaccine hesitance level among Zimbabweans, even the health professionals themselves, the government must begin to engage the people. We want to be engaged by the professionals.

The government should send the professionals who know how to explain what has happened in the development of these vaccines. How it has gone through all the phases of development and the field trials that have been done in other countries.

We want to know the results of the safety and efficacy in the field trials that have been done in other countries. All that information will assist in the uptake of the vaccination.

Zimbabwe took delivery of 200 000 doses last month and 400 000 doses this month but the country is yet to vaccinate 50 000 people close to 6 weeks after the country received the vaccines.

More: New Zimbabwe