By Staff Reporter
Institute for Community Development Zimbabwe (ICODZim) have implored government to provide guidelines on the side effects of Covid 19 vaccines on possible effects on persons with disabilities especially mental and others battling with other chronic illnesses.
This follows the Sinopharm instructions list that circulated on social media stating that adults aged 18 to 60 years, including those with chronic illnesses that are well controlled can take the vaccine. People with conditions that suppress the immune system such as HIV-AIDS, on steroid medication or receiving chemotherapy and people with uncontrolled chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, asthma, late stage kidney disease were not advised to take the vaccine.
However nothing was mentioned about people living with disabilities who were even not consulted or included in the country’s rollout plan as a priority constituency.
Vice President and Health and Child Care Minister Constantino Chiwenga who was recently grilled by citizens and Members of parliament over the efficacy and possible side effects of the Chinese donated Sinopharm corona virus vaccine, yesterday become the first Zimbabwean to be jabbed in the country.
Chiwenga said Sinopharm and Sinovac were both approved by the World Health Organization and Zimbabwe will be taking both, since the government had already signed for the Covax facility. However concerns arose in citizens after the country received 200 000 shots and the government stated that front line workers which include Health workers, security forces and other essential services were going to be vaccinated first without force but freewill.
ICODZim however, stated that the government should provide guidelines on the side effects of the vaccines and engage with institutions and deliberate on the vaccine rollout plans in regards to those most easily affected people.
“ICOD is imploring the government of Zimbabwe through its various ministries and organs in the fight against COVID-19 to engage and address on the side effects of the vaccines with emphasis on people with disabilities especially those with mental challenges and those with chronic illnesses to institutions that cater for these people”.
VP Chiwenga has recently spent time receiving medical attention from China for an unknown ailment and has recovered, hence giving some hope that the vaccine will work in fighting this deadly pandemic.
Some citizens and rights group however questioned the efficacy of the vaccine and are calling on the government to conduct clinical trials before offering it to the public.
On Wednesday, the group Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said it would take the government to court if authorities do not conduct clinical trials of the Sinopharm vaccine.
