AFRICA TO ESTABLISH COVID-19 VACCINES PLANT

By ADRIAN MWANZA THE Africa Union (AU) is set to open a Covid-19 vaccines manufacturing plant aimed at cushioning the growing demand of doses. Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) Director, Victor Mukonka, said the AU through the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention would in due course open a Covid-19 vaccines manufacturing plant in Africa to ensure that vaccines were readily available. Professor Mukonka said that the current situation was tricky because countries like Zambia were waiting for doses from Europe and other continents which took time to be accessed. “If you look at the Johnson vaccine we have been waiting for some time now because it is on high demand and we have just recently received it, but with the coming of the plant, accessibility will not be a problem,” Prof Mukonka said. Prof Mukonka said that the slight hiccup was as a result of the high demand the vaccines had, but that he was sure it would no longer be the case. He said that Government was targeting to vaccinate over eight million people by the end of the year and was hoping that people would continue getting vaccinated.“I’m hopeful that the target will be met looking at how people are coming to get vaccinated in Lusaka and across the country,” he said. Prof Mukonka said health workers were getting an overwhelming response from people who wanted to get vaccinated countrywide. He said vaccines were a game changer and people needed to come forward so that they could enhance their health. Prof Mukonka said the Johnson vaccine was highly sought after since it was a once off dose unlike the others. He said Government had made various connections on acquiring new doses of the various vaccines and people should not panic COVID-19 VACCINES PLANT By ADRIAN MWANZA THE Africa Union (AU) is set to open a Covid-19 vaccines manufacturing plant aimed at cushioning the growing demand of doses. Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) Director, Victor Mukonka, said the AU through the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention would in due course open a Covid-19 vaccines manufacturing plant in Africa to ensure that vaccines were readily available. Professor Mukonka said that the current situation was tricky because countries like Zambia were waiting for doses from Europe and other continents which took time to be accessed. “If you look at the Johnson vaccine we have been waiting for some time now because it is on high demand and we have just recently received it, but with the coming of the plant, accessibility will not be a problem,” Prof Mukonka said. Prof Mukonka said that the slight hiccup was as a result of the high demand the vaccines had, but that he was sure it would no longer be the case. He said that Government was targeting to vaccinate over eight million people by the end of the year and was hoping that people would continue getting vaccinated.“I’m hopeful that the target will be met looking at how people are coming to get vaccinated in Lusaka and across the country,” he said. Prof Mukonka said health workers were getting an overwhelming response from people who wanted to get vaccinated countrywide. He said vaccines were a game changer and people needed to come forward so that they could enhance their health. Prof Mukonka said the Johnson vaccine was highly sought after since it was a once off dose unlike the others. He said Government had made various connections on acquiring new doses of the various vaccines and people should not panic