Zimbabwe to produce electronic COVID-19 vaccination register

HARARE, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government will introduce an electronic COVID-19 vaccination register to make it easy to identify people lagging behind on vaccination, a cabinet minister said Tuesday.

The electronic vaccination register will enable easy identification and follow-up of those yet to receive second and third doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, Acting Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere said at a post-cabinet media briefing.

The plan to introduce an electronic COVID-19 vaccination register comes against the background of low second and third dose coverage.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, a total of 6,570,103 people have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, 4,938,105 their second dose, and 1,240,179 their third dose as of Nov. 28.

Muswere said the move is part of measures to boost vaccination and curb new cases during the festive season.

Amid a slight increase in new cases over the past few weeks, the government has said it will include COVID-19 vaccination in the second round of polio vaccination campaign set for Dec. 1-4.

To date, Zimbabwe has recorded 259,192 COVID-19 cases, 253,037 recoveries, and 5,620 deaths.