Times Of Swaziland: VACCINATION SLOWS AS ABOUT 2 600 DOSES LEFT

VACCINATION SLOWS AS ABOUT 2 600 DOSES LEFT
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BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA on 12/04/2021 08:00:00


MBABANE - There are just over 2 000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine left
in the country.
The vaccination exercise for the elderly has slowed down now that there are 2
667 COVID-19 vaccines which are available at healthcare facilities. This was
revealed by Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi when releasing the latest COVID-19
Vaccination Summary which was made public last Friday. The statement also
revealed that 29 333 people had been vaccinated in the country. According to the
vaccination update, out of the 29 333 clients who were inoculated, 8 664 were
healthcare workers. As of April 9, 2021, the most vaccinated region was the
Hhohho Region, where 10 229 people had been inoculated. Following is the Manzini
Region, with 9 851 vaccinations and the Lubombo Region with 4 946 vaccinations.
Administered
The least vaccinated region is the Shiselweni Region, with 4 308 people who have
been administered. The most people with comorbidities who were vaccinated had
hypertension as 10 229 were vaccinated.  People with HIV who vaccinated are 5
069 and they were the second highest group among people with comorbidities.
March 31 still remains the day with most inoculation as 4 257 people were
vaccinated.  Worth noting is that by the time this report was being compiled
yesterday at 3:30pm, more vaccinations were ongoing in the different vaccination
centres. When asked when the next consignment of COVID-19 vaccines would arrive
in the country, Minister Nkosi said they would know this week. “We will find
out about arrival of the next vaccines this coming week,” she said. The
minister did not elaborate any further. Worth noting is that some emaSwati,
especially those who have vaccinated, have expressed their concern on the
arrival of the next consignment of COVID-19 vaccines, expressing hope that they
would be in the country by the time they were due for the second jab.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 vaccination exercise has not been friendly to everyone
in the country. An elderly woman collapsed and fainted 10 minutes after being
inoculated with the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine last Thursday during the
vaccination exercise for the elderly at Ezulwini Umphakatsi. The name of the
elderly woman is known to this publication, however, will not be revealed. The
vaccination exercise for the elderly in the country began on March 31, 2021 and
last Thursday, the exercise was at the Lobamba Constituency. The vaccination
centres at the constituency were at the National Church, Lobamba Inkhundla
Centre and Ezulwini Umphakatsi. According to close sources, the elderly woman
collapsed after vaccinating, and she was rushed to Lobamba Clinic, where she was
then transferred to Mbabane Government Hospital.