By Anna Chibamu
HARARE East MP and MDC Alliance vice president Tendai Biti has raised concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the Sinopharm vaccine donated to the country by the Chinese government on Monday.
Biti speaking on a point of privilege as Parliament resumed business Tuesday queried several issues regarding the vaccine highlighting that it was yet to be approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The former Finance minister told Parliament Speaker Jacob Mudenda that government was also yet to present a comprehensive roll-out plan for the vaccination process.
“As it is, the national roll-out plan is absent. There is no evidence that the Chinese vaccine has been approved by WHO. Yes, we believe the best solution to control the disease is through vaccination. The Health minister should issue a ministerial statement to the National Assembly.
Churches hail Govt, urge vaccine acceptance
Herald Reporters
Churches have hailed the Government’s efforts in taming the impact of Covid-19 following the arrival this week of the first batch of the vaccines from China, urging citizens to embrace the doses.
Led by the Roman Catholic Church, the Zion Christian Church and other denominations, churches took turns to implore the nation to get inoculated against the virus threatening populations and health services across the globe.
The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference secretary general, Father Frederick Chiromba, said the Government’s efforts to secure the vaccines are timely.
“The church recommends vaccines for all for a fairer and healthier world. Covid-19 vaccines must be made available and accessible to all. The church is at the service of healing the world.
Vaccination roll-out kicks off
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, flanked by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda (left) and the ministry’s permanent secretary Mr Nick Mangwana, presents the post-Cabinet report to the media at Munhumutapa Building in Harare yesterday. -– Picture: Believe Nyakudjara
Mukudzei Chingwere
Herald Reporter
VaccinatiON against Covid-19 starts tomorrow with 49 000 health workers and thousands of other high-risk frontline staff being scheduled for stage one of phase one using the first batch of the Sinopharm vaccines that arrived from China on Monday.
But the second wave has brought in the South African variant with 61 percent of cases now being this variant, which spreads faster and has a higher death rate than the original variant which has largely receded. Lockdown regulations are to be tightly enforced to minimise the higher risk.
Cabinet received an update on the country’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs presented as the Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Task Force on the COVID-19 Outbreak.
Cabinet was informed that as at 12 February 2021, Zimbabwe’s cumulative COVID-19 cases stood at 35 045, with 29 959 recoveries, 1 393 deaths, a case fatality rate of 4.0%, and a recovery rate of 85,5%. Indications are that 33 348 cases contracted the virus from local transmission. Active cases are now 3 693, while the cumulative number of infected Health Care Workers is 3 909, with 17 deaths. Generally, the surge in cases is coming under control.
In view of the realisation that infection and death rates are still high despite a downward trend, Cabinet endorsed His Excellency the President’s decision to extend the Level Four lockdown measures for a further two weeks. The curfew will now be in force from 2000 hours to 0530 hours while business operat
US-Zimbabwean ally Tendai Biti Queries Acquisition Of Unapproved Chinese Vaccine – The Zimbabwe Mail thezimbabwemail.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thezimbabwemail.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.