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Rutendo Rori Mash East correspondent
Mashonaland East province health workers and uniformed forces have received their first jab of the Covid-19 vaccine.

During the launch of the Covid-19 vaccine programme at the Provincial Medical Director’s (PMD) office in Marondera today, frontline workers including the PMD Dr Paul Matsvimbo, nurses, staff from Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) received their first shot of the Sinopharm vaccine.

After receiving his shot, Dr Matsvimbo said the province was targeting 10 500 frontline workers in the vaccination programme.

“The province will be targeting to vaccinate 10 500 frontline workers. We have received 21 000 Covid-19 vaccine doses for both first and second doses,” he said.

“Health workers and uniformed forces are on the frontline and risk being exposed to people with Covid-19 each day of their job.

“Protecting themselves also helps to protect patients and their families especially those who may be at higher risk for severe illness.”

Dr Matsvimbo assured the nation that the sinopharm vaccine was safe since the regulatory authority did a thorough analysis of it.

“This vaccine is safe and it trains our immune system to be prepared for future infections. Our regulatory authority did a thorough analysis of this vaccine and granted the Ministry of Health and Child Care the authority for the emergency use of the vaccine.

“We are so grateful to the Chinese government for the vaccine donation,” he said.

Dr Matsvimbo also said 213 centers were set up in the province for the vaccination programme.