ZVISHAVANE environmental health officer Patrick Mabusa says the district targets to reach herd immunity by year-end.
Mabusa said so far, 52.3 percent of the mining town has been fully vaccinated and they were now insight to get to their 60 percent target.
“We have not yet reached our herd immunity of 60 percent, but we are hoping that by the end of December, we would have achieved that as well as reaching the national target of 80 percent. We are now at 52.3 percent for all age groups, who have been fully vaccinated,” he said.
Mabusa said as of December 15, 2021, a total of 54 808 adults had a received their first dose, while 2 644 in the 16 and 17-year-olds age group had been inoculated.
“For the second dose, we have 44 778 for all age groups with 1 365 being 16-17-year-olds,” he said.
This comes as a total of 4 053 889 people have been vaccinated throughout the country with the country set to miss the target of 10 million by year end.
Meanwhile, Mabusa said Zvishavane is working on a vaccination implementation programme with different stakeholders so as to encourage people to get inoculated.
He said the Health ministry has partnered with companies like Mimonsa Mine, Murowa Diamonds, Sabi Gold Mine and the local radio station YaFM to mobilise people to the jab.
“Our aim is to bring the health service delivery to the doorstep of our community members. As a district we are implementing a number of strategies,” Mabusa said.
Tamary Chikiwa
in ZVISHAVANE