Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Kennedy Malama says government will only cover 20 percent of the 8.4 million citizens who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccines in the country.
Dr Malama notes that among the 8.4 million Zambians to be vaccinated against the viral infection include the elderly, people with underlying health complications and those that work in high risk areas.
Lusaka that 13 vaccines that have been proven to be effective will be available, noting that only COVAX and astrazeneca will be administered to citizens by government.
The Permanent Secretary stated that other approved vaccines out of the 13 will be administered to citizens through private partners that have shown interest.
“The country will remain open to other stakeholders that can help eligible citizens who may not be covered by the 20 percent,” he stated.
Dr Malama stressed that only vaccines whose efficacy and safety have been proven will be allowed adding that it can only be done through assessment by the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) and other regulatory bodies.
“The vaccines have been proven to prevent illness by 80 percent and severe illness by 100 percent,” he said.
Dr Malama noted that COVID-19 has been strenuous on the government especially during the second wave between December last year and February this year.
And Dr Malama further noted that people are usually reluctant to accept new developments.
“They criticized the government when the Antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccines were introduced, but as scientists we will prove the efficacy of the vaccines using scientific evidence,” he said.
He stated that the Ministry of Health will continue to monitor happenings in other countries.
“It is likely that we will be hit by the third wave which will be more ferocious and we are taking these steps to prevent the deadly variance,” he said.
He stated that government will continue to strengthen efforts in the fight against coronavirus pandemic and that 200 health workers will be employed at the COVID-19 health centres in the country.
“This is out of a total of 395 that are set to be employed by the Ministry of Health this year,” he said.
He also noted that the Ministry will not neglect other diseases that affect citizens.
Meanwhile, a cross section of citizens in Lusaka have mixed feeling over the COVID-19 vaccines.
Veronica Bwalya, a vendor in the Central Business District, who bases her opinion from social media assertions, says that she will not accept or allow any member of her family to take the vaccine.
““We have been told that the vaccine is intended to wipe out the black people. I will not allow anyone in my family to be vaccinated,” Said Bwalya.
And Blessings Zulu says the vaccine will be good for the prevention of the disease saying more people may die if such an intervention is not taken.
Close to 88,000 people have been infected with COVID-19 and 1,200 have died from the viral disease since last year when it was first reported in the country.
WILL WILL WILL BE COMING
WHEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND THE FIGURES DONT TALLY ???????? either the infected or DEATHS
90% OF THE COUNTRY NOT WEARING MASKS WHAT IS GOVERNMENT DOING TO INCOURAGE MASKING UP
So just the corrupt PF elite will be getting vaccinated…… What a surprise! You really have no shame Mr President?
So if you belong to PF you will get the vaccine is what it sounds like, As for people that listen to social media, they may be taken out on the 3rd wave over the next 6 months. if this vaccine is to remove black people then why are black people in the US,,UK and Canada not dead from it?
Can this government be trusted to import the actual vaccine from Johnson&Johnson Inc? Won’t they import fake stuff as they did in the HoneyBee matter?
Zambian government should focus on citizens who matter, in this case; Nurses, teachers, soccer players, zaf , ZNS and UPND.
If you vaccinate that population, all population will start to accept.
In fact let ZAF and ZNS do the vaccination exercise.
Ba Edgar has respected my thinking, and that’s why Zambia is at peace.
Think Zambia, think!!
Vulnerable people first. The rest of us can manage.
THE VUNERABLE IS 85% OF POPULATION
AND U ONLY DOING 20% kikiki
WISE PF LOGIC AGAIN
AND WHEN IS PF GOING TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE 100″s OF THOUSAND MASKS THEY DISPLAYED ??
AT POLLING STATIONS ?????????
Ba Edgar is most vulnerable. The guy faints even when sees women matching past him. I pray for the most hardworking Minister ever, but a destitute president.
I am not cyber bullying, why is Kampyongo texting me???
Ba Kennedy, there is no vaccine or medicine that has 100% efficac. So the world community accept and agreed that no one should benefit from Covid-19 ,these countries have vaccinated almost half of the eligible population at free cost to recipients. The Lungu government whats 80% of the eligible population to buy vaccine privately. The free doses the international community has donated covers far more than 20% you are telling us. Where are the rest of these doses going to?. You are setting up private entities to sell the doses you got free . Shameless and selfish kants. Come August vote these day light criminals out.
Let pf take it and if they all die then its a party.
Honeybee will supply the vaccines which will be water in the syringe ?
““We have been told that the vaccine is intended to wipe out the black people. I will not allow anyone in my family to be vaccinated,” Said Bwalya.
Hey ,No one is forcing you to get vaccinated.
Such backward thinking and mentality is what has made Africa to lag behind.
Tell your Ministry of Health to manufacture the vaccines which will not wipe out the black people
Visionless in EVERYTHING, clap for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talking of something which is not even there yet. Much like zambia airways board.