Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Child Care, Vice President Chiwenga has said COVID-19 vaccination is going to be voluntary.
He made the remarks in his COVID-19 update on Friday as some members of the pubic are indecisive on whether to take the vaccine or not. In a statement, Chiwenga said:
I am also aware that some of our citizens are anxious to get vaccinated. The Government is following the development and dissemination of COVID 19 vaccines by other states, with keen interest. Despite the observations made that other African, European and Asian countries had started rolling out vaccines, Zimbabwe adopted a measured approach, with experts interrogating all safety concerns. As soon as all technical and administrative obligations are met, Zimbabweans can expect to be vaccinated. The vaccination is going to be voluntary. Let me underscore that my Ministry is doing everything possible to ensure that our citizens are safe from possible side effects of some COVID 19 vaccines, currently on the shelf.
Some members of the public are afraid of the side effects of the vaccines while some are even alleging that the vaccine is against their religious beliefs.