By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) has called on government to improve the national vaccination program as the country still has a long way to go to attain herd immunity.
Government is aiming at inoculating 60% of the population which translates to about 10million Zimbabweans.
In its ZIMCODD’s Weekender Reader the organisation recommended government to co-ordinate an effective vaccine decentralised system.
On the 18th of February 2021, government introduced the vaccination program and as at 7July 2021, a total of 819 058 (first dose) and 579 699 Zimbabweans (second dose) had been inoculated against Covid -19. Treasury set aside US$100million for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines.
“The Covid -19 National Task Force must coordinate an effective vaccine decentralised system to ensure effective roll out and timely distribution and equitable distribution of vacvines across all districts in the country. This should take into consideration all the identified Covid -19 hotspots. There is need for the government to publicize the vaccine doses distributed per district while local authorities report n vaccines administered against vaccine doses received.
“The government should insulate Covid-19 vaccination program from corruption allegations. It is therefore prudent that all Covid -19 vaccine resources are subjected to regular Parliamentary scrutiny as provided for in section 299(i) of the Constitution and made publicly available through online databases. Regular feedback and reporting from Government around expended resources, acquired vaccines, vaccine distribution is critical to increase public confidence and buy in for the ongoing vaccination programme.
The Government must intensify the vaccine awareness campaign strategy to increase vaccine uptake and demystify the vaccine awareness campaign strategy to increase vaccine uptake and demystify vaccine myths so that citizens can make informed choices as opposed to coercion or fear,” reads the ZIMCODD Weekend Reader.
ZIMCODD further urged government to set aside enough resources for the printing of the vaccination cards which must be distributed in a systematic and computerised manner to minimise risk of people fraudulently accessing certificates.
