By ZBC Reporter
The President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa says government is in engaging countries which have developed COVID-19 vaccines in a bid to save lives from the deadly pandemic.
In a State of The Nation Address delivered from State House this Saturday, The President assured Zimbabweans that help was on the way as experts are almost done with consultations which will help determine the course to take pertaining the vaccine.
Government has and is engaging countries which have developed vaccines. Help and relief are on the way. Our experts who have been assessing different vaccines are very close to finalising the course to recommend to over our nation, he said.
The President also put to rest scepticism among Zimbabweans over the safety of the vaccine.
…… a course which brings in relief, and which we roll out across the length and breadth of our nation, so we do not lose more lives is inevitable. A course which ensures that the vaccines we introduce in our bodies are safe and effective noted the President.
He also paid tribute to healthcare workers whom he said would receive priority protection if the country is to be protected from the COVID-19 scourge.
We will spare no effort to protect our frontline staff who have served us remarkably well under very challenging conditions in these trying times. They are the heroes and heroines of our nation and should receive priority protection so they, in turn, protect all of us. Once we receive the vaccine and it will be quite soon, they will be the first ones to be inoculated, he said.
On other measures to implement in the fight against the pandemic, the President spoke on unity as the strongest weapon against COVID-19.
Now is the time to strengthen that unity, determination and shared sense of purpose. We face a new kind of war, but a war nevertheless. We face a new enemy, but a common one. As before, we summon that inner resource, individually and collectively to one share end. You, me, all of us becoming each and one another’s keeper, he highlighted.
Since the onset of the pandemic in January 2019, the world has seen over 99 million infections and more than 2 million deaths with Zimbabwe’s infections surpassing thirty thousand and more than 900 deaths to date.