The government has said the nation will receive 2,5 million doses of Covid-19 next month under direct purchase adding that another 943 200 will also arrive in the country under the Covax programme.
Up to now Zimbabwe has already acquired 13 million vaccines out of the 20 million that is required for the country to achieve herd immunity.
Addressing Journalists on a media briefing yesterday, Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services Hon Monica Mutsvangwa said the vaccination drive will be employed to all institutions.
“On the advise of scientists vaccination programme will also be extended to the 14 to 17 year age groups, the ministry of Health and Childcare will employ the following strategies in the rolling out of the vaccination exercises. First the private sector then universities and churches and other institutions of higher learning in accelerating the Covid-19 vaccination drive,” she said.
Recently the Chinese donated another 500 000 doses while the Serbian government has made a donation of 7 000 Sputnik V doses.
Meanwhile, as of 24 August 2021 a total of 2 382 359 people had received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and 1 5o6 445 had received their second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine across the country, a move which is meant to accelerate the vaccination drive to ensure that Zimbabwe attains herd immunity by December this year.
As of 24 August 2021, Zimbabwe Covid-19 cumulative cases stood at 123 320 with 108 660 recoveries and 4 320 deaths the recovery rate stands at 88 percent with 99 percent of Covid-19 positive cases being attributed to local transmission.
The government said as of August 24 the number of active cases stands at 10 340. The government also noted that there was a 32 percent decrease in weekly cases from 3 761 during the weekend of 15 August 2021 to 2 564 to week ending of 22 August 2021.