3 Million Voices
In April, ZPP carried a survey in Harare to establish the situation obtaining in centres where the
COVID-19 vaccination is being administered.
Areas visited include Highfields Poly Clinic, Kuwadzana 4 Clinic, Wilkins Hospital, Edith Opperman
and Mbare Hostels Clinics in Mbare, Belvedere Clinic and Epworth Poly Clinic.
Observations showed that while there was a general increase in the people coming in for
vaccination, the numbers have remained low in comparison to the number of residents in areas
visited.
This is attributable largely to the information gap around the process as government has not
made adequate efforts to inform citizens.
There was also a general logistical disjoint in the nature with which the process is being carried
out as some healthcare workers charged to conduct the process did not have adequate resources
and information. For example, in Epworth at Overspill Poly Clinic, there were no vaccine cards on
April 7 and some individuals had their names just recorded and told to check with the clinic at a
later date to receive their cards.
At Highfields Poly Clinic, it was found out that there were no second jab vaccines and people were
being referred to Harare Hospital or Wilkins Infectious Disease hospital for the second jab of the
vaccination.
2.61.1 Issues noted
2.6.2 Information gap.
During the survey, it was noted that there was an information gap on the difference between the
Chinese Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines, and when asked, the healthcare workers said the two
were the same.
Government has also not fully explained the discrepancy in the dates for the first and second jabs.
It was noted that people who went for the first vaccine on the same day did not always get the
same date of return for the second jab, and the reasons for that were not explained and the
healthcare workers only mentioned that the differences in dates for the second jab did not matter.
In addition, for those who got vaccinated, there is no room to choose between the three vaccines
available, that is the Sinopharm and Sinovac and the Indian
“I was only told to wait in the vaccination queue and the next episode was taking down my
personal details before getting a jab. I was only surprised to see written codes on my card
different from one of my colleagues” said a man in his late 40s after taking a jab at Edith
Opperman Polyclinic in Mbare.
2.6.3 Coercion
Some people who spoke to ZPP cited that they were being coerced to take the vaccine following
pressure from their employers and threats to fire them if they continued to resist the vaccination
process. The respondents said they were not given adequate time or education to understand the
process they were getting into and some companies had introduced a “No vaccine, No work
policy” and did not give enough information to the workers.
2.6.4 Our recommendations:
The Ministry of Health should embark on a nationwide, all-inclusive programme to educate
people on the variables in the vaccination process.
Government should also partner with civil society and the corporate sector to complement efforts
for a nationwide information dissemination drive on the vaccination process.
In addition, government should give credible and evidence-based information to citizens on the
entire process.
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