Tag: Vaccination

Zimbabwe Fails to Immunise 34,000 Children Every Year

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is falling behind in its efforts to fully immunise every child, with approximately 34,000 children going without basic vaccinations each year. This alarming statistic, contained in the latest World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) report released on July 15, 2025, highlights the persistent vulnerability of Zimbabwe’s youngest citizens, many of whom remain completely unprotected from life-threatening vaccine-preventable diseases. The WUENIC report revealed that across Southern Africa, the number of “zero-dose” children, those who have not received even the first dose…

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Africa CDC to Convene Emergency Meeting to Review Mpox Public Health Status

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Following a sustained decline in reported Mpox cases across Africa, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is set to convene an Emergency Consultative Group (ECG) meeting with experts to determine whether Mpox should still be classified as a public health emergency. In August 2024, Africa CDC declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS)—the first such declaration since the agency’s inception in 2017. However, recent evidence from contact tracing and screening interventions suggests a notable reduction in Mpox-related morbidity and mortality…

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Africa CDC to Convene Emergency Meeting to Review Mpox Public Health Status

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Following a sustained decline in reported Mpox cases across Africa, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is set to convene an Emergency Consultative Group (ECG) meeting with experts to determine whether Mpox should still be classified as a public health emergency. In August 2024, Africa CDC declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS)—the first such declaration since the agency’s inception in 2017. However, recent evidence from contact tracing and screening interventions suggests a notable reduction in Mpox-related morbidity and mortality…

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Second polio vaccination campaign in Zim begins

Healthtimes

By Staff Reporter The second round of the national polio vaccination campaign begins today with the Health and Child Care Ministry anticipating to vaccinate over 4 million children. Polio is a dangerous disease that can cause paralysis or death of children. The Health Ministry in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), and many partners last month started the nationwide polio vaccination campaign using the novel OPV type two (nOPV2) vaccine following the confirmation of circulating poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in Zimbabwe. The two phased campaign aims to…

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#Breaking: Zimbabwe Targets Two Million With Oral Cholera Vaccines

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to provide temporal protection against Cholera infection and severe cholera symptoms, Zimbabwe will soon be rolling out a targeted Oral Cholera vaccination program in the 57 affected districts, HealthTimes has learnt. Zimbabwe is among the 18 countries battling Cholera in the world and according to the Africa Centre for Diseases Control (Africa CDC), the widespread Cholera crisis on the continent has pushed demand for Oral Cholera Vaccines (OVC) to unprecedented levels. However, Zimbabwe has since made headway in terms of procuring vaccines and mapping…

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‘January disease’ vaccine revives Goromonzi cattle farmers’ hopes

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere recently in Goromonzi IT is 11 pm in the scotching sun as cattle jump into Mwanza Diptank in Mwanza Village,Goromonzi district, their usual place for dipping to fight against tickbone disease. Diptanks also known as plunge dips also provide the most effective and efficient method for controlling ticks in animals against ticks, flies, mites, lice and other external parasites. An hour earlier, delegates from United Nations quadripartite agencies of the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and…

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A Mother’s Unwavering Commitment: Ryan’s first Polio Vaccination

Healthtimes

What seemingly started like an ordinary morning for Whyy Mutumbunzou (21), with her routine house chores, including caring for her only child, 1-year-old Ryan, took an unexpected and thrilling turn. A radio broadcast message from the MoHCC encouraging all mothers and caregivers to bring their children under five years for the 4th round of the Polio vaccination campaign. By Own Correspondent Despite not knowing what Polio was, Whyy enthusiastically gathered her belongings and walked briskly with her son to the nearest clinic, Hatcliff Family Health Services. For Whyy, the choice…

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The Big Catch Up: Zimbabwe Launches Integrated Vaccination Drive To Cover Lost Ground

Michael Gwarisa

IN a move that is set to catapult Zimbabwe’s vaccination coverage to dizzy heights, the country has already started implementing an integrated vaccination drive in communities mainly prioritizing  Human papillomavirus vaccines (HPV), COVID-19, Tetanus and Diphtheria (DT). By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s integrated vaccination drive is in line with the “The Big Catch-up”, a targeted global effort to boost vaccination among children following declines driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign is being led by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates…

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WHO Publishes New COVID-19 Vaccination Guidelines

Healthtimes

THE World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s)  Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has since revised the roadmap for prioritizing the use of COVID-19 vaccines, to reflect the impact of Omicron and high population-level immunity due to infection and vaccination. By Staff Reporter The roadmap continues SAGE’s prioritization of protecting populations at the greatest risk of death and severe disease from SARS-CoV-2 infection and its focus on maintaining resilient health systems. The roadmap newly considers the cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination for those at lower risk – namely healthy children and…

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Zim preps intensified measles, polio vaccination

Michael Gwarisa

PREPARATIONS for an intensified measles and polio vaccination campaign are well on course as the Ministry of Health and Child Care commenced the training of trainers in Masvingo on Monday. This comes on the heels of the declaration of a measles outbreak in Mutasa district. The Health Ministry is conducting a Intergrated meeting on Polio Campaign & EPI Training of Trainers workshop on Supplementary Immunization Activities with support from UNICEF ZIMBABWE and WHO Zimbabwe. The participants were drawn from the country’s 10 provinces. “There are planned measles and polio campaigns…

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