By Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa
Cabinet received a progress report on the procurement and roll-out of COVID-19 Vaccines, which was presented by the Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Honourable C.G.D.N. Chiwenga.
Cabinet wishes to inform the public that the COVID-19 roll out programme is well on course, with a total of 34 400 people vaccinated countrywide as of day 12 of the Campaign.
Progress has been registered in receiving the second donation of 200 000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China, a donation of 75 000 doses of the inactivated Covaxin from India, and another donation of 20 000 does of Sputnik-V vaccine from Russia.
Emergency use authorization has been issued for the four (4) vaccines by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe, namely: Sinopharm, Sinovac (China), Covaxin (India) and Sputnik-V (Russia). All those intending to procure vaccines for their employees must procure only registered vaccines in Zimbabwe.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development will be purchasing the vaccines on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe.
Cabinet would also like to unveil the guidelines for the procurement and administration of COVID-19 vaccines by the Private Sector in Zimbabwe.
Following wide ranging consultations with the private sector, the following guidelines will be followed:
All COVID-19 approved vaccines will be procured through the National Vaccine Procurement Fund managed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
Organisations, individuals and any partners wishing to donate towards vaccine procurement will do so to the President through the Fund. Donations received and pledges made to date will be announced at the next Meeting.
Organisations interested in procuring COVID-19 vaccines for their workforce will deposit their funds into the National Vaccine Procurement Fund after approval by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The National Vaccine Procurement Fund will procure on behalf of the organizations guided by the national procurement guidelines.
To ensure safety and efficacy, vaccines shall be kept at the Central vaccines Stores under the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the National Cold Chain guidelines shall apply.
Only trained and registered health professionals shall be authorised to administer vaccines, and only the Ministry of Health and Child Care shall be responsible for issuing all COVID-19 vaccination certificates.
All vaccines administered at private institutions will be transported by Ministry of Health and Child Care medical staff under guard by the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
