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HomeNews‘COVID-19 December Herd Immunity A Far Fetched Dream’

‘COVID-19 December Herd Immunity A Far Fetched Dream’

Public policy think tank the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) says the attainment of the COVID-19 herd immunity is a far-fetched dream considering that it is less than a month from year-end.

In an Access to Public Health Monitoring Report for the month of November 2021, ZDI said the country finds itself in a precarious position as only 3 million people have been vaccinated.

“The attainment of Covid-19 herd immunity in Zimbabwe finds itself in a precarious situation given that the country is now less than a month away from the end of the year and only 3.73 million people have been vaccinated against a target of 10 million.

“The period under review was characterised by steady growth in Covid-19 vaccination across the country. By 31 October 2021, the country had vaccinated over 3 million people against the pandemic. However, the increase in vaccinations still falls short of the set target of 60% herd immunity by end of the year 2021.

“The period between 31 October and 31 December (2 months) is really not enough to vaccinate the remaining 62% given that the actual vaccination rate of 38% was attained over a period between March and October (7 months),” the report noted

Emirates

As indicated above, the government of Zimbabwe took 7 months to vaccinate 38% of the targeted herd immunity population. It follows that the attainment of herd immunity now requires the government to vaccinate the remaining 68% in 2 months. It is apparent the government is faced with a huge mountain to climb considering the rate at which Covid-19 vaccination is moving with. Amidst the above, the government still maintains that Covid-19 herd immunity will be achieved within the set timeframe.

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In November 2021, ZDI says the Government admitted that it was determined that it will achieve herd immunity by December 2021.

“The attainment of Covid-19 herd immunity in Zimbabwe is a dream that is farfetched. This is despite mandatory vaccination of civil servants that have so far managed to have 99% of public sector workers vaccinated against Covid-19.”

The think tank called on the Government to develop a clear plan on how it is going to utilize the remaining time between now and the end of 2021 to vaccinate the population in order to reach herd immunity.

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