Africa-Press – Tanzania. AS Tanzania intensifies its countrywide vaccination campaign, the first consignment of 1,065,600 doses of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines from China has arrived in the country as part of the Covax arrangement.
The consignment has arrived at a time when 760,962 Tanzanians have already received the shots of Johnson & Johnson ‘Janssen’ which arrived in the country in July 24th, this year, where 1,058,400 doses were received.
To achieve full immunity against the virus, a person will need to receive two Sinopharm vaccines within 28 days, according to the Minister for Health, Gender, Elderly and Children Dr Dorothy Gwajima.
Speaking at the reception of the vaccine yesterday at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) in Dar es Salaam, Dr Gwajima said Sinopharm doses will intensify the fight against Covid-19 and its effects by allowing many citizens to choose the type of vaccine they think is best for them because the vaccines imported have been tested and declared safe.
“Beginning next week, we expect to get more vaccines of various types…We will continue to keep the public informed on the delivery of such vaccines. The ministry has already developed a vaccination guide that outlines the procedures for administering these vaccines to Tanzanians, with the goal of meeting a vaccination target of 60 per cent of the population,” Dr Gwajima said.
Dr Gwajima urged the public to continue taking all preventive measures, including undergoing vaccination to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Because of massive public awareness campaigns on Covid-19 pandemic and vaccines, the situation has continued to improve in the country…however, despite these improvements, people need to continue taking all the necessary precautionary measures, including adhering to advice given by our health experts. The increase in vaccinated people is attributed to the ‘Rapid and Participatory National Covid-19 Immunisation Campaign,’ run by the health ministry in partnership with the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government, PORALG).
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has also been imploring all relevant authorities, religious leaders and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) to continue educating the public about the importance of immunisation.
On Monday, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa revealed that Covid-19 vaccines rollout in Tanzania is performing well as almost 80 per cent of the first consignment of 1,058,400 doses had been administered among the public across the country.
The Premier maintained that the government will ensure the Covid-19 vaccines are available to the public, pointing out that the jabs will continue to be administered in gatherings among other centres, to allow more people to access the vaccine.
For the past few days, reports on the status of vaccination roll out in various parts of the country showed an impressive turnout.
Rufiji District in Coast Region has seen over 90 per cent of the doses being administered while Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Mr Stephen Kagaigai, revealed that 36,730 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in the region, accounting for over 50 per cent of the region’s Covid-19 quota.
“In the first phase, our region received 60,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine whereas by September 28th, this year, 36,730 people had received the vaccines,” said Mr Kagaigai, noting that the region’s administration is working day and night to ensure all doses are administered by October 14, this year.
Another success story has been recorded in Itilima District, Simiyu region where, according to the District Commissioner, Ms Faiza Salim, all the 4,230 doses of the Covid-19 vaccines had been administered to residents.
Meanwhile, PETI SIYAME reports from Sumbawanga that the Rukwa regional administration announced yesterday that Covid -19 immunisation campaigns recorded impressive results with over 13,189 people having been vaccinated since the exercise took off on August 4, this year. So far, the number of people who have received the jabs is equivalent to 79.3 per cent.
They attribute the successful result to the region’s efforts to embark on intensifying the fight against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic by carrying out an outreach programme. Rukwa Regional Commissioner Joseph Mkirikiti made the announcement yesterday while opening the Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) meeting.
“The immunisation campaign through outreach approach is going on well. We received 20,000 doses on August 04 this year and 13,189 have been administered so far,” added the RC.
He underscored the need for people to continue taking all necessary Covid -19 prevention measures, including turning up for vaccination at designated centres in the region.
Contributing their views, some members of the RCC meeting lauded healthcare providers for administering the vaccines in the allowed vaccination centres in the region, asking them to continue providing the service to the public.
