Zimbabwe Lockdown: Day 558 – WCOZ Situation Report

558 days of the COVID-19 Lockdown, and as of 6th of October 2021, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 131 523 after 89 new cases all local cases, were recorded. The highest case tally was recorded in Manicaland with 30 cases. We note that the Hospitalisation rate as at 15:00hrs on 6 October 2021 was 76 hospitalised cases: 6 New Admissions, 5 Asymptomatic cases, 53 mild-to-moderate cases, 15 severe cases and 3 cases in Intensive Care Units.

Active cases went down to 2 207. The total number of recoveries went up to 124 685 increasing by 354 recoveries. The recovery rate goes up to 95%. A total of 12 231 people received their 1st doses of vaccine. The cumulative number of the 1st dose vaccinated now stands at 3 152 916. A total of 15 822 recipients received their second dose bringing the cumulative number of 2nd dose recipients to 2 374 049. The death toll went up to 4 631 after 1 new death was recorded.

Critical Emerging Issue

Slowdown in Vaccination Programme

We note with concern the marked slowdown in the vaccination programme. Whilst we fully commend the Government, communities and the health care sector for supporting the vaccination programme which has seen Zimbabwe become the 2nd most vaccinated country after South Africa and having over 15% of its population vaccinated, Zimbabwe is not moving fast enough in light of a large stock of vaccine being in country. Jabs are not getting into arms fast enough. We are concerned the country has failed to meet daily vaccination targets of 50 000 persons per day which is the target in the national vaccine program. We remain further concerned that the average number of people who received first doses peaked at 37 000 per day in July 2021 driven by fears of the third wave and now has drastically reduced, with only a daily average of 12 000 people receiving vaccination in the past week.

The slowdown of the vaccination program is further problematic in a context where the public service, which the largest employer in the country has already adopted a mandatory vaccination policy with severe penalties on defaulters. We note that the private sector has largely adopted similar measures in various sectors and yet the vaccination rate continues to fall. We emphasise that this situation requires a shift in strategy and policy.

  • We continue to call for a people centred vaccination program, which is responsive, agile and accessible to the people.
  • We amplify our calls for the expansion of the vaccine program into actual mobile vaccination programmes that deliver vaccines community to community.
  • We reiterate the need for provision of vaccination centres at clothing, food, small scale producer markets, Agro-dealers, and grain collection points in rural and peri-urban areas.
  • We continue to call for vaccination points to be established at both legal and illegal housing areas and in housing developments.

Outstanding issues

Removal of Zimbabwe from UK Red List

We welcome the removal of Zimbabwe from the UK Red List effective on Monday the 11th of October 2021. We commend the Government of the United Kingdom and the engagements undertaken by the Government of Zimbabwe to support the COVID-19 response and reporting efforts to provide support to the appropriate listing of Zimbabwe.

The removal represents the best interests of the citizens of both countries and the support the recovery efforts for the travel and leisure industries of both countries

We call upon a revision of the listing of Zimbabwe in various western countries
We continue to call for full recognition of WHO approved developing country manufactured vaccines.

Source: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe

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