Zim takes delivery of cholera vaccines
GOVERNMENT will today receive the third batch of 294 000 oral cholera vaccines (OCV), bringing the total number of vaccine doses available in the country to 892 000.
This comes as Government prepares to begin the rollout of the vaccination campaign in cholera hotspots on Monday.
The OCV campaign is part of the measures being rolled out in response to the current outbreak which has affected more than 20 000 people and claimed 454 lives since its onset in February last year.
Zimbabwe was allocated 2,3 million oral cholera vaccine doses from the international co-ordinating group on vaccine provision and the initial tranche of 892 000 doses is now in place.
Speaking after receiving a consignment of cholera medicines and supplies worth US$265 000 from UNICEF in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said all was set for the rollout of the vaccination campaign.
“We are waiting for the last batch and we are hoping that by tomorrow we will receive the third batch of 294 000 doses to make them 892 000. We should start our vaccination campaign from January 29 up to February 2. But we are expecting 2,3 million doses so we will be vaccinating as they come. The second tranche of another 894 000 doses will be coming and we dispatch it as well until the 2, 3 million doses are completed,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora said the campaign would initially target hotspots, mainly Manicaland, Masvingo, Harare, Mashonaland Central, and Mashonaland West provinces.
He expressed appreciation for the support from UNICEF and other partners in the preparations for the OCV campaign as well as in providing the medication and supplies needed in the fight against cholera.
“What you have given us today is quite substantial and will go a long way in helping us combat the cholera epidemic. As you know, Zimbabwe has had a protracted cholera outbreak since February 2023. This is almost a year now. By 24 January this year, the country had recorded a cumulative number of cases of 20 446 and 452 cholera deaths,” said Dr Mombeshora.
The country’s case fatality rate (CRF) currently stands at 2,2 percent but the World Health Organisation recommends a CFR of less than one percent in a cholera outbreak.
The Minister said the medicines donated by UNICEF would be instrumental in reducing the CFR to acceptable levels.
Among the supplies received by Government yesterday were antibiotics, oral rehydration salts, infusion giving sets, and other commodities used in the treatment of the diarrhoeal disease.
◆ Full story: www.herald.co.zw