Zimbabwe Monday morning received 200,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine donated by China amidst mixed feelings over the efficacy of the vaccine.
The consignment is one of China’s first shipments of vaccines to Africa, after deliveries to Egypt and Equatorial Guinea.
Frontline workers such as health professionals and immigration agents working at border posts will get first priority for the vaccines, according to a government rollout plan.
The Chinese vaccines are just the start of the millions needed for Zimbabwe to vaccinate 10 million people, representing 60% of the country’s population, to achieve herd immunity, health officials said.
However, amid all the hope, the Chinese vaccine is raising a lot of questions as Pakistan on Thursday said that the vaccine proved not effective for people over 60 years of age, a day after it began its countrywide coronavirus vaccination programme with the Chinese jabs.
Special Assistant to the Pakistan Prime Minister on Health, Dr Faisal Sultan told the media on Thursday that Pakistan’s expert committee while considering the preliminary analysis data recommended the vaccine only for people aged 18-60 years.
“At this stage, the expert committee has not authorised the Sinopharm vaccine for people older than 60,” he said, adding that after getting more data, a decision will be made whether it can be used for elderly.
In Zimbabwe, there is still despair as some citizens remain sceptical of the vaccine which is yet to undergo clinical trials to test for its efficacy.
A snap survey by 263Chat revealed that although most people are willing to take it, they remain with more questions than answers.
“Obviously for the sake of my family and friends, I will take the vaccine but I have very little information about what I will be taking. Is the government using us as guinea pigs? Are they going to take it themselves or they will take the better ones,” asked Robert Chirandu, a vendor in downtown Harare.
A further 600,000 doses from China are set to arrive in early March, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said last week.
A health professional was delighted at the prospect of being part of the priority list on the first batch.
“For us frontline workers, it is a great feeling because it means we get to be on the field helping others in good shape. We were always fearful of our lives, just living in fear that we could contract the virus and who knows, maybe die. So we are looking forward to this,” said a nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Some questioned the secrecy surrounding the vaccination saying it raises eyebrows as most people have long lost trust in the Zimbabwean government.
“Why is it nothing is being said about its effects, its positives. We know our government is good at hiding things, and this could be one of them. Maybe there is more to this than what we are made to believe. I will not take this vaccine until I’m certain that there is safety guaranteed,” said Edward Mutyavaviri, a civil engineer in Harare.
Upon receiving the jabs, Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga hailed Zimbabwe’s friendship with China saying it demonstrates the long bond of solidarity.
“It has not been lost on us that in times of need China’s response has been swift. This is a timely donation … our people have suffered from this pandemic.
“The vaccine offers the possibility that our people who have borne the brunt of the economic ravages of the pandemic might finally turn a new page,” Chiwenga said.
China’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Guo Shaochun said that Zimbabwe is one of the first of 58 countries to receive donations of the Sinopharm vaccine.
“Zimbabwe is our brother so the supply of vaccines to Zimbabwe is not a problem,” he said.
Last week, West African nation Senegal paid US$3.7 million for 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine, at nearly US$19 per shot.
Only a handful of African nations have begun giving vaccinations as the continent scrambles to obtain supplies for its 1.3 billion people, even as many richer nations are racing ahead with mass immunisation programmes
