…as Dr Mwiimbe calls for the introduction of mobile vaccination drive
By SIMON MUNTEMBA
GOVERNMENT should impose serious restrictions at all entry points to contain the spread of the new Covid-19 variant, called B.1.1.529 or Omicron, Biomedical Union of Zambia president Daniel Mwiimbe has suggested.
And Dr Mwiimbe said Zambia could succeed in addressing Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy by introducing mobile vaccination programme.
In an interview, Dr Mwiimbe said the best way to contain the spread of a new Covid-19 variant which was identified by scientists in South Africa and Botswana,was to tighten restrictions at the borders.
He said government should restrict entry of people from countries in which the variant was detected and impose a mandatory quarantine for 14 days for those coming in Zambia.
“Mandatory vaccination is not the only area we should concentrate on. The best way is to put serious restrictions entry points because this strain is not here in Zambia. It is in South Africa and part of Botswana, so serious restrictions are needed at the entry points,” Dr Mwiimbe said.
He also advised government to put enough human resource in terms of health personnel to carry out screenings at all entry points in the country.
Meanwhile, Dr Mwiimbe has implored government to consider introducing Covid-19 mobile vaccination programme to ensure more people were reached and vaccinated.
He said when a team of medical personnel was dispatched to rural and suburban areas throughout the country, people would easily get vaccinated without having to travel far.
He added, “This allows the people to get vaccinated without having to travel far. Those who may have difficulty moving and travelling to vaccination centres will also be given vaccines by this team at their homes.”
On Sunday, Government announced the Covid-19 preventive measures aimed at averting the new strain of the virus, among the measures was the introduction of mandatory vaccination.
