The Zimbabwean government announced Tuesday that it has roped in the private sector in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines particularly in hotspots as the third wave rages across the country.
Until now, the government’s vaccination program which began in February was being done mainly by the public sector.
In a statement, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Jasper Chimedza said the private hospitals and clinics will offer the vaccines at a nominal cost.
He said only those hospitals and clinics adhering to this rule will be encompassed in the program.
The government is rolling out the vaccines free of charge to members of the public at public health institutions, although foreign nationals and tourists can access them at a fee.
“The implementation of the vaccination program which was being done mainly by the public sector is now being extended to private health facilities starting with private hospitals, clinics and private medical aid societies,” Chimedza said.
“However, the private sector is allowed to charge a nominal administration fee of injection,” Chimedza said.
He said participating private health institutions will be required to report daily statistics to provincial medical directors and city health directors, as well as report any adverse events after immunization.
The Zimbabwean government has to date acquired 4.2 million doses of Chinese vaccines, in addition to receiving small quantities of Russia’s Sputnik V and India’s Covaxin vaccines.
To date, 1.18 million people in the country have received their first jab and 643,203 have got their second jab.
Zimbabwe has recorded a cumulative number of 85,732 cases of COVID-19, 55,714 recoveries and 2,697 deaths
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