“The donation of 200,000 doses and an initial batch of 600,000 doses which the Zimbabwe government has purchased are expected in the country by 15 February 2021 and the first week of March 2021 respectively,” Zimbabwe’s Information Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa told reporters.
As of February 11, the Southern African nation had recorded 34,864 COVID-19 cases with 1,364 deaths and 29,471 recoveries.
In the February 10 news report, Archbishop Kaliyanil discourages members of the public from peddling falsehoods and conspiracy theories regarding the vaccine saying, “Those spreading falsehoods do not have scientific facts. The scientific fact is that while it does not have 100 percent efficacy, the possibility of protection is higher.”
The member of the Society of Divine Word (SVD) adds in reference to the vaccine, “I don’t think we need to be worried about it and people should be willing to take the vaccine without being forced. If I get an opportunity, I will take it.”
The 60-year-old Indian-born Archbishop further says, in the February 10 news report, “Pope Francis himself, the head of the Roman Catholic Church has taken it in Rome.”
On January 14, Pope Francis and Pope emeritus Benedict XVI received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The two men later received the second dose of the vaccine.
In the February 10 news report, Archbishop Kaliyanil says that the Holy Father’s acceptance to be vaccinated “was a good sign and he was encouraging others to do it as well.”
The Archbishop who has been at the helm of Bulawayo Archdiocese since 2009 further says, “It was important that frontline workers in the health sector be prioritized in the vaccination programme.”
Zimbabwe has experienced a spike in what is considered the second wave of COVID-19 infections that has seen the country record 9,149 cases between December 29 and January 11.
On January 23, the Bishop of Zimbabwe’s Chinhoyi Diocese who is in isolation after he tested positive for COVID-19 urged the people of God in the Southern Africa nation to strictly adhere to the coronavirus safety guidelines.
