Government Only Planning To Vaccinate 20% Of Adult Population

Ministry of Health permanent secretary Kennedy Malama has revealed that the government is only planning to vaccinate 20% of  Zambian adults against Covid-19; immunising just 1.68 million out of a population of more than 18 million people. 

Last week, the government said it had plans to immunise all people over the age of 18, or roughly 46% of the total population. However apparently that figure has now been revised down.

Zambia has registered more than 87,000 cases of Covid-19 since the pandemic began and has suffered over 1,200 deaths, however these figures may be as much as 92 times higher, according to some estimates. 

Speaking to the media on Monday, Mr Malama admitted it is “likely” Zambia will be hit by a third wave of the coronavirus, “which will be more ferocious”. 

Zambia finally joined the United Nations vaccine sharing programme COVAX last week after the government came under heavy criticism for being one of the last African countries to do so. 

Over 3.6 million Zambians will be vaccinated free of charged under the COVAX, which is backed by the World Health Organisation and the GAVI vaccine alliance. 

The government’s decision followed strong criticism from United Party for National Development Leader Hakainde Hichilema, who told Bloomberg that the Patriotic Front regime was too focused on elections in August to draw up plans to protect the population.

“Our government is sleeping on duty,” said Hichilema, adding that “Not even on arm of a citizen of Zambia has gotten a jab. It’s ineptitude”. 

The government’s consistent delays in vaccine rollout have led to many Zambians becoming distrustful of the vaccines, even though they are proven to be 100% safe.

One market vendor in Lusaka’s Central Business District told the Lusaka Times: “We have been told that the vaccine is intended to wipe out the black people. I will not allow anyone in my family to be vaccinated”.

Other African countries are much further ahead in their vaccination programmes, with Ghana receiving 600,000 doses of the Oxford/Astra-Zeneca vaccine as far back as February.