HARARE, (The Southern African Times) – Zimbabwe will receive an additional 200,000free doses of China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, a government official announced today on Twitter. Zimbabwe is also set to purchase a further 1,2 million from China.
The Sinopharm vaccine is approved in China for general public use and is also being administered in a number of other countries. Zimbabwe is among the first ten countries on the continent to roll out a vaccine against COVID-19. The government has indicated that the leadership will lead in the vaccination process, with Vice President Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Health, receiving the first jab.
The government have also stated that more vaccines of about 600 000 doses are expected in the country next week. Further, Zimbabwe is collaborating with other Southern African countries to airlift vaccine cargo from China.
The Chinese Embassy in Harare delivered the message to President Mnangagwa early today during a virtual meeting.
Although the leading opposition Party in the country criticised the procurement of Simoparm. Zimbabwe’s government insists that the vaccination Programme is proceeding smoothly due to its clarity of vaccine policy, procurement and rollout programme.
