Theft Of COVID-19 Vaccination Cards Points To Underlying Issues In Health Sector

The latest Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) report says the theft rampant theft of COVID-19 vaccination cards at health facilities for sale to people is a pointer to underlying issues in the health sector.

In its September 2021 access to public health survey report, the think-tank says the thefts are triggered by poor salaries of health personnel. Noted the report:

Theft of Covid-19 vaccination cards at vaccination centres as reported in mainstream media is an indicator of a bad state of affairs in the health sector in as far as remuneration of healthcare workers are concerned.

These unfortunate incidences distort the country’s Covid-19 vaccination data and information, and give a wrong impression on vaccination progress.

The government’s failure to address incapacitation of healthcare workers in Zimbabwe is proving to be catalyst of corrupt activities across many health centres in Zimbabwe.

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The government and many companies have been pushing for mandatory vaccination and have threatened to block unvaccinated people from accessing some services.

ZDI says it recently noted people were scrambling for cards without necessarily going through the normal and accepted vaccination processes so as to have access to public goods and services. Added ZDI:

An enquiry carried out by ZDI reveals that details of people buying Covid-19 vaccination cards are entered into the official vaccination database.

It, therefore, suffices to say the reported number of people vaccinated by 30 September 2021, consists of a figure of people who bought the vaccination cards and have their details entered into the official database.

Zimbabwe aims to achieve herd immunity but ZDI says if the theft of cards might give authorities the false impression that the country has attained herd immunity when it has actually not.

NewZimbabwe.com reported that vaccination cards are stolen for resale at US$20 each to persons who don’t want to be vaccinated.

More: NewZimbabwe