Harare (New Ziana)-Zimbabwe will soon start vaccinating children aged between 14 and 17 years against Covid-19, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show Agri-business conference, VP Chiwenga, who is also Health and Child Care Minister, said clinical trials for the age group had been completed.

“We finished the protocols of vaccinating the children between the ages 14 to 17 and this programme will be rolled out pretty soon.

“So as we get the herd immunity, we then can grow our economy,” said VP Chiwenga.

Zimbabwe began vaccinating those aged 18 years and above against Covid-19 in February this year.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child care, as of 27 September, 2021, a total of 3 051 371 people had received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 2 211 880 their second across the country.

This translates to a national coverage of 35.7 percent for the first dose and 25.8 percent for the second dose.

Zimbabwe is targeting to inoculate at least 10 million people to reach herd immunity.

The total number of vaccine doses sourced since the roll-out of the vaccination programme is 12 300 000, the bulk of which were procured through the Treasury, while some were donated by China, India and Russia.
New Ziana