The People’s Republic of China has pledged another 200 000 COVID-19 vaccines adding to a similar number of doses received and already being administered across the country.
Addressing journalists yesterday, Presidential spokesperson, George Charamba said China pledged to donate an additional 200 000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine, bringing its total donation to 400 000 doses with another 600 000 bought from Sinopharm expected within a week or two.
“The President has just had a virtual meeting with the Chinese Ambassador who brought good tidings to Zimbabwe. He broke news from his President Xi Jinping to say that the Chinese Government has decided to give us a further 200 000 doses of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine,” said Charamba.
“That brings the total donation from China to 400 000 doses which will cover about 200 000 Zimbabwe beneficiaries. That is a substantial input from China, more so given that it is coming as a donation to Zimbabwe.
Charamba said the ambassador also indicated that the Chinese pharmaceutical companies are now in a position to make available the vaccine doses which have been bought by Zimbabwe.
“So really, as we move in the weeks ahead we should be able to see the vaccination programme picking up the tempo thereby hastening the pace at which we go back to normalcy in Zimbabwe, getting the children back at school, workers back at work so that we can kick-start our economy in realisation of Vision 2030,” said Mr Charamba.
The Covid-19 vaccination programme started in all 52 districts with frontline health workers and other key personnel at high risk of infection, getting their first jab.
Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Vijay Khanduja confirmed that the 75 000 vaccines would soon arrive in the country and that Zimbabwe has the opportunity to buy more.
Ambassador Khanduja assured Zimbabweans that the vaccine was safe and was currently being used in India and other countries.
“I understand there is some skepticism but trials have been conducted and proven. The vaccines have been used in India to put to rest all the skepticism about the Indian vaccine,” said Ambassador Khanduja.
