The Ministry of Health and Childcare is planning a massive COVID-19 vaccination drive targeting the 14 to 17 age groups after Cabinet recently adjusted the age groups eligible to receive the jab.
In a memo dated 1 September 2021, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Childcare Air Commodore (Dr) Jasper Chimedza directed all Provincial Medical Directors (PMDs) to compute the target population in the 14 to 17 age groups for the Phase 3 Clinical Trial with the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine ahead of the rollout. The memo read:
RE: SINOVAC COVID-19 VACCINATION FOR THE 14 TO 17 YEARS AGE GROUPS
Reference is made to the above subject matter.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care with recommendations from the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe [MCAZ) has resolved to conduct a (Phase 3 Clinical Trial) vaccination of the 14 to 17 years children with the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine.
You are hereby requested to urgently compute the target population of this age group in your respective provinces in preparation for the above exercise.
Your cooperation in this regard will be greatly appreciated.
Government recently ordered schools to reopen, with virtually all pupils unvaccinated while just over 5 per cent of teachers have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to teachers’ unions.
As a result, there are fears that schools could become coronavirus super spreaders and hasten the COVID-19 fourth wave.