Zim intensifies Covid-19 vaccination as new cases rise

Harare, (New Ziana) – The number of people vaccinated with the first dose of the Covid-19 jab jumped more than five-fold to 53 226 for the week ending June 27 compared to the previous week, data from the Ministry of Health and Child Care shows.

In the week ending June 20, only a total of 9 918 people received their first jab, amid a rise in both deaths and infections from the pandemic.

The number of new cases of infection more than doubled to 4 663 during the week ending June 27, from 1 820 the previous week.

Covid-19 deaths also jumped to 64 from 45 during the period, the Ministry said.

Since the launch of its vaccination programme in February this year, a total of 756 291 people have had the first vaccine jab while 518 968 got the second jab.

At the weekend, the country received 500 000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine procured from China.

A further two million Sinovac vaccines are expected by end of this week, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Mthuli Ncube said, with an additional 1.5 million Sinopharm doses expected by mid-July.

“By end of August, we want to bring in another 3.5 million doses from China,” he said.

The country has so far approved four vaccines including Covax from India and Sputnik V from Russia for use.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic in March last year, the country has recorded 46 442 cases of infection as at June 27, 2021 and 1 736 deaths.
New Ziana