THE NEW PASSPORT
I really must get vaccinated against Covid-19 within the next few days or else I will be among scores of people stuck at home and unable to travel when the need arises.
For me, it has been mostly about the wait and see attitude. If not for that I would have long gotten my first jab since journalists are considered frontline workers. Most fellow scribes have already closed this chapter of vaccinations.
However, for others, it has been scepticism over the Chinese vaccine, some clearly stating they will wait for the doses from India, which arrived on Tuesday.
What has also been of great concern is that not much has been done to sensitise the masses about the vaccines, where to get them and who is eligible to be vaccinated. Even though I am now ready to be vaccinated, I am yet to find out where I can go because this information is not readily available.
Again, when the first vaccine came, there was word that people living with HIV, high blood pressure or are diabetic are not supposed to be vaccinated as their immune systems are compromised. This is yet to be clarified.
While we are still waiting for this clarification and other important details about these vaccines, the government instead announces it will start issuing Covid-19 certificates to people who have received their second dose as a way to verify who has been vaccinated and who hasn’t.
These cards will also be used when people travel in and out of the country.
A few weeks back, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the country might consider mandatory vaccinations and that those who refuse risked losing out on employment opportunities and social services such as public transport.
Knowing our government and judging from the latest announcement of Covid-19 certificates, we might soon be told that those not vaccinated should just stay at home. As stated earlier, the general feeling is that a lot more information needs to be put out to people before such policies come into play.
Much of the population live in rural areas and this populace is yet to be fully schooled about these vaccines.
The Health Ministry plans to vaccinate at least 10 million people out of the almost 14 million citizens but to date just under 70,000 people have been vaccinated.
Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa ordered that bars and nightclubs should be closed this Easter as another way of curbing the spread of the virus. Church gatherings and funerals are still at maximum 50 people.
As of Monday, Zimbabwe had 36,839 confirmed cases including 34,617 recoveries and 1,520 deaths.
Government will start issuing Covid-19 Certificates to people who have received their second dose as a way to verify who has been vaccinated and who hasn’t