On Monday Zimbabwe received 200 000 doses of a coronavirus vaccine developed by State-owned China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a subsidiary of the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm).
The vaccine was donated by the Chinese Government, with Zimbabwe purchasing 600 000 doses from Sinopharm which are expected in the country next month.
However, a pamphlet accompanying the SinoPharm vaccine indicates that the medicine should not be administered to people with chronic conditions. The pamphlet reads:
Who cannot take the vaccine? Children or young people under the age of 18 years, women who are presently pregnant or breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy within the next six weeks.
Anyone with allergies to Covid-19 vaccines or other vaccines in the past, anyone who gets allergy from the first dose should not take it again.
Any history of serious allergy (anaphylaxis) requiring emergency care, people with conditions that suppress the immune system, e.g HIV-AIDS, on steroid medication or receiving chemotherapy.
People with uncontrolled epilepsy or other neurologic conditions, people with uncontrolled chronic conditions, e.g uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension, uncontrolled heart failure, late-stage kidney disease and uncontrolled asthma.
The Sinopharm vaccine has an efficacy (effectiveness) rate of 79.34% above the 50% recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).