Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children has urged elderly population to turn out for the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination that started early this week countrywide. Speaking to reporters yesterday in Dodoma, the Deputy-Minister of the docket, Mwanahamisi Ali Hamis told the group to be in the frontline due to natural decrease in their immune system.
She said that elderly people are a group that is at high risk of contracting Corona infection, therefore the Ministry advises the community to voluntarily encourage all older people to go to the immunisation centres to receive the service. She emphasised that the elderly deserves to be protected from various disasters, including strengthening the protection and security of their health.
In addition, she instructed Social Welfare Officers and Community Development Officers across the country to ensure that they motivate the elderly through various platforms, including local elders' councils, the media, especially social media to educate them on how to access the vaccine in designated facilities. "We advise them to establish a special awareness programme so that vaccination could reach them and clear the doubt and rumours surrounding the vaccine," the Deputy-Minister told the media.
However, she called on health workers to ensure that the elderly people are given priority in accessing vaccination services without any inconvenience. She added that the Ministry in collaboration with other stakeholders had prepared a smooth environment for vaccinations centres across the country to ease the whole exercise.
The Deputy-Minister further revealed that no grouses have been officially reported on negative impact of the corona jab from those who have already been vaccinated across the country. "No complaint has been reported due to the COVID-19 vaccination, things are very smooth, we are only worried that the number of doses that we have received will not meet our target due to the big turnout," she revealed.
The Deputy-Minister also encouraged the community to continue taking precautions based on the various guidelines and instructions given by health professionals.