The government has approved Zambia’s participation in the free COVAX facility program that targets to vaccinate 40 percent of the country’s population.
Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya says the vaccination programme procured by UNICEF will not be mandatory but one which will be done voluntarily.
Ms. Siliya says the approval of the free vaccine pilot programme has been reached after expert advice that these vaccines should for now be targeted at persons aged 18 years and above.
She says cabinet has approved that the vaccine will priorities people above the age of 65, including those with chronic illnesses as they are at high risk of death.
Ms. Siliya says others that will be prioritized include health frontline workers, police, security traditional leaders, clergy and immigration officers as these are taken as the most essential to maintaining core societal functions.
She says marketeers, traders including bus and truck drivers involved in cross-border business, will also be prioritized in view of the environment they work through.
And Health Minister Jonas Chanda has assured Zambians that Government will priorities their safety and that NO harm will be allowed on them.
Meanwhile, Dr Chanda has disclosed that Zambia has recorded Four COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Dr. Chanda said among the deaths include former secretary to the cabinet Roland Msiska who died in Lusaka.
He told the media at the routine COVID-19 update that the country has also recorded 3 Hundred and 25 new COVID-19 cases out of the 7 Thousand 6 Hundred and 46 tests.
There are issues with these vaccines in the USA and Europe. Deaths in Zambia from Covid have all but stopped. There is a 97% recovery from a Covid infection, why would government insist therefore that citizens be injected with a substance whose long term side effects are not known? Look what happened to South Africa. This is not a responsible move I totally disagree with this action.
I for one will NOT go for vaccination until President Lungu has had his on live TV but I doubt we will see that happen
THE PRESIDENT HAS ALREADY HAD HIS VACCINE SO HE WONT HAVE IT AGAIN ???
THE GOVERNMENT WILL GO FOR ANYTHING THAT IS FREE THATS OBVIOUS CONSIDERING THE KITTY IS EMPTY
SO SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING ???????????????????????
Govt approves, like you had any other choice, bankrupt country
The AstraZeneca vaccine you are thinking of giving Zambians is not being given to Americans because the government had issues with it. In Europe it was banned by Germany, France, Norway. Denmark and Finland because of reported blood clots and death after administering it. They lifted the ban after pharmaceutical companies lobbied with lots of cash but they still turned around and banned its use. Now they are trying to dump it on Zambians. What lesson do you want to learn more than the South Africans that also banned its use.
The more you depend on others the less you depend on yourself syndrome. Always free things. Why can’t we work hard in order to provide for ourselves. Zambia has a terrible culture of dependency.
True
What the country needs is vaccination against corruption to be given to Lungu and his ministers
So there is a Chief Government Spokesperson?
Great development. We have waited to see how the developed world have faired on these vaccines and then decided to go with them, once satisfied that people don’t turn into angry upnd diasporans when they take these vaccines. In essence you may say we used the diasporans as proxy guinea pigs
Edgar Lungu has already had covid, that time when he was not seen in public for three weeks but kept posting religiously on FB, it would have been a Magufuli story but thankfully he recovered after hiatus.
Additionally, he, like many other leaders, has had the vaccine.
Sillya is short of including ministers in her prioritization list.
Vaccines should be from 16, not 18.
I am a Zambia Living in the USA, and I had my first vaccine dose today, Thursday the 25th of March, the nurse happened to be from Burundi.
The people in Zambia against vaccines are ill informed and are just urging others for mass suicide. I have lost Zambian friends to COVID-19, Two of my nephews recovered ( and one not fully even after many weeks after being discharged) and the sickness wasn’t pretty,
Find a dependable source of news, Washington post, BBC, NY times, LA times, Boston Globe, the Guardian, PBS etc.. these are reputable sources of news. I am not here to educate you how Pfizer and Moderna were the the first out of the gate, The temperatures at which they have to be stored are so low, Zambia can’t afford the technology and the know how to minister these. Astrazenica…
As if you have ever refused free things before…!!
Why aren’t ministers, MPs, Mayors being targeted amongst essential societal officers who keep people and services moving?
If you don’t want vaccine, you have free choice friends to make, stay away after all it has been clarified that it’s voluntary! So stay away, and watch the world moving!
Kaizar with a UK PR address is a massive ntanikane .
You should try your best not to take anything trolls say seriously. No matter how poorly they behave, remember these people spend countless unproductive hours trying to make people mad. They’re not worth your time of the day.
Please give full information not half truths.The only vaccine with issues is the Astra Zeneca one.Even then there are conflicting results.Britain has vaccinated 7 million without serious side effects and here in Africa Rwanda has used it without reports of serious side effects.
You can hold your opinion and refuse to be vaccinated but there’s no need to give inaccurate information.
Zambian women are looking beautiful in masks.
I have had first dose of AstraZeneca about 2 weeks ago, perfect timing and would encourage people to have it, you will be safe and your beloved ones
Some of what you’ve said here is true some is false.Astra Zeneca NEVER went to America because of issues,the issues emerged long after it was in use.
The lifting of the ban has been after evaluation not after corruption . There’s only ONE death suspected (Not comfirmed) to be caused by Astra Zeneca.
UK never suspended it’s use even when other European countries did
Why twist things and give half truths?
There’s no need to instill fear where it’s not necessary.
Zambia has a terrible culture of dependency STATED BY ABOVE POST
IT IS SO SO TRUE 56 YEARS AND STILL CANT STAND ON OUR OWN FEET
SURELY THE PEOPLE REALISE THIS …
TALKING ABOUT ALL THE DEVELOPEMENT IS STILL DEPENDENCY WHICH FUTURE GERNERATIONS HAVE TO PAY
SO0 HOW ARE WE GAINING GROUND ???
Though we have fewer positive cases but the deadly virus is unpredictable. So the covid-19 vaccine is a must.
We must thank the president for making the vaccine available for all age groups above 18 years.
The vaccine came at the right time. Thank you, ECL!
After testing and checking the vaccine is made available by the government. It is 100% safe.
I am sure, majority of people must be waiting for the vaccine of covid-19. Thank you, President Lungu.
I must say that President Lungu and his administration perfectly handling the Covid-19 situation in the nation.
Now, Zambians will also get the vaccine dose like other countries. Until then, we must continue to follow the Covid-19 health guidelines.
The government giving positive hopes, soon the Covid-19 will disappear from Zambia.
Finally, the covid-19 vaccine is here for the people!!!
The people need to avoid listening to the false words of HH and some media. As they would try to fear Zambians about the vaccine.
FOR THE ILLITERATE THERE IS NO 100% GUARANTEE WITH THE LIMITED TESTING
ALSO ONLY 75% EFFECTIVE
TALK TALK TALK
PLEASE ADVICE WHEN ARE THEY COMING ???
This is good news for Zambia (!) but also begs many questions. First, the 40% target is nowhere near enough to achieve herd immunity so what next? Other than the elderly, will people with medical conditions such as HIV, diabetes, high BP and others be eligible? When will actual injections begin?
From the terrible misinformation spewed in many comments above, it is clear “Hon” Siliya and others need to get busy with real public information on how vaccinations will work and what the efficacy and risks of vaccination truly are. Not just grandstanding. Agreeing to participate in COVAX is cheap and should have happened long ago – then this time waiting could have been used to sensitize the public.
In the diaspora we are getting the best vaccine, uko Kaya, just recently you had expired drugs given to you people by the corrupt Lungu and his crooks and you are going to trust these animals with Covid vaccine? Don’t be lied to, that’s urine Lungu will be injecting into your bodies. To make matters worse, you will be paying for it.
Get rid of Lungu and his thieves.