The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
CABINET has directed that schools in three provinces in the country set up Covid-19 vaccination desks as schools in these provinces are still to reach the 70 percent coverage threshold.
Speaking during a Post-cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said the three affected provinces are Harare Metropolitan, Manicaland and Midlands.
She said out of the 2 615 registered secondary schools nationwide, a total of 1 942 (73 percent) have reached a vaccination coverage of 70 percent or more.
“Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that, as at 22 August, 2022, a total of 6 401 018 first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had been administered, while 4 761 840 people had received their second dose, and 979 244 their third dose. Routine vaccination activities are continuing at all health facilities and the public is encouraged to get vaccinated.
“On the vaccination coverage in schools, Cabinet reports that out of the 2 615 registered secondary schools nationwide, a total of 1 942 have reached a vaccination coverage of 70 percent or more. Schools that have not reached the 70 percent vaccination coverage are mostly in Harare Metropolitan, Manicaland and Midlands provinces. Cabinet agreed that schools in these provinces must set up vaccination desks as they register learners for the schools re-opening in September 2022,” said the Minister.
She said the idea of setting up the vaccination desk was to mop up all secondary learners who have not been vaccinated and hence ensure that they are all vaccinated before they resume classes.
The Minister further revealed that the country’s cumulative Covid-19 cases stood at 256 628 as at 22 August, 2022, with 250 895 recoveries and 5 592 deaths.
“The recovery rate was 98 percent, with 141 active cases. A total of 12 new admissions were recorded during the week, and one patient was admitted to the intensive care unit at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.
“The majority of those who were admitted in hospital had not been vaccinated, hence the nation is encouraged to get vaccinated. Cabinet notes that the pandemic continues to be brought under control in most provinces, even though Midlands, Masvingo and Matabeleland South had recorded small increases in new cases over the past 14 days,” she said.
