Mozambique will receive, in the coming days, doses of vaccine from the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac for the immunization of health professionals on the front line of fighting the covid-19 pandemic, because they are the risk group.
However, the 2.4 million doses to be made available through the Covax mechanism, co-managed by the Global Alliance for Vaccines (GAVI), will only arrive in the country in May, contrary to initial forecasts that pointed to this month.
The Deputy National Director of Public Health, Benigna Matsinhe, said that the vaccine from China will be administered to health professionals who work in the areas of prevention, diagnosis and medical assistance to patients with covid-19, and may also cover other risk groups such as police and military personnel.
He added that the Ministry of Health is in the process of drafting the National Vaccination Plan, and is evaluating the approval and acquisition of vaccines from Sinovac, Johnson and Johnson, Oxford and Astrazeneca.
Questioned about the mandatory vaccination, Matsinhe recalled that health is a right and duty of citizens, besides that the professionals in the sector are aware of the importance of immunization for disease prevention and risk reduction.
He pointed to improvements in epidemiological surveillance mechanisms in health units and expansion of testing capacity, with an impact on the registration of more and more positive cases in the districts.
He pointed out that with the outbreak of the pandemic and the spread of the number of cases in the country, concern is growing regarding the performance of the immune system in health.
“An adequate immune system is an important factor in protecting against viral infections, including covid-19. For strengthening the immune system, one should start by eating a balanced and varied diet, based on ali-
based on fresh, natural foods,” he said.
Meanwhile, covid-19 continues to claim victims in the country. Between Sunday and yesterday, health authorities recorded four more deaths due to the disease, bringing the total number of victims to 599.
the total number of deaths caused by the disease since its outbreak in March last year to 599.
The number of hospitalized patients rose yesterday to 222, with the admission of 24 new patients in the health units. In the opposite direction, 22 patients, who were in institutional isolation, were discharged and will continue
treatment at home.
It was also announced that 517 new infections were registered, bringing the cumulative number of positive cases to 56,160.
