Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Constantino Chiwenga on Thursday said the government is engaging retired health workers and army personnel to fast-track the coronavirus vaccination process.
Chiwenga said this while speaking to reporters soon after getting his second Sinopharm jab. He said:
We are bringing in army medical personnel, local authorities and retired health workers to revamp vaccination across the country to achieve herd immunity.
This is a massive rollout and we have not had such in years hence it is important that we train health workers, educate the nation about the importance of vaccination.
Chiwenga, who was the first Zimbabwean to get vaccinated last month, has urged citizens to embrace the COVID-19 vaccination programme. He said:
Today my vaccination was just a matter of seconds and I was done. This improved speed is commendable and this will help us reach our targets.
We have to do it faster and have the manpower to do it.
Zimbabwe is using a phased approach in vaccination and is now in its second phase. The first phase targeted frontline workers and to date 39 607 have been vaccinated.
The uptake has, however, not been encouraging as there are reports some health sector workers are reluctant to receive the Chinese-developed vaccine.