‘Vaccine tourism’ is booming in Zimbabwe as foreign nationals are going into the country to get their vaccine against COVID-19 at a fee.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that visitors are welcome to receive the vaccination at a cost, and many have started doing just that.
‘Zimbabweans will get the vaccine for free, but for foreigners who come here, they will receive the vaccine at a cost. This is a human element, we cannot deny anybody the vaccine, but if you are not Zimbabwean we will give you the vaccine at a cost,’ President Mnangagwa said.
As reported by Sunday Times, four Covid-19 vaccines have been authorised by Zimbabwe: China’s Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines, Russia’s Sputnik V, and Covaxin from India.
So far, 478 174 people have been treated with both Sinopharm and Sinovac’s vaccines in Zimbabwe.
The Herald spoke to a local businessman situated in Zimbabwe, Grant Evans, brought his family over from South Africa to receive the vaccine.
‘The Covid-19 vaccine roll-out is slow in SA, and my extended family in Cape Town needed to get vaccinated. We made a decision to bring them to Zimbabwe to get vaccinated. The private clinics in Zimbabwe are charging foreign nationals $70 for both jabs, we are happy to pay and it sounds reasonable,’ said Evans.
An uproar rose on social media with regards to what some now call ‘vaccine tourism’.
Truth is, vaccination is accessible in Zimbabwe. Whoever wants it can get. That we have only 1% vaccinated speaks more about us, the intended beneficiaries. Otherwise, if you want to be vaccinated today, you’ll definitely be vaccinated. All gvt & council clinics have vaccines
— Ferb Chidahuyo Bengo (@ferbchidahuyo) May 9, 2021
Zimbabwe is offering #COVID19 vaccine free of charge for Zimbabweans and foreign nationals pay, 70 US Dollars. I perfectly understand that and agree with it. If SA were to charge foreign nationals, it would be called different nasty names. We would be branded “heartless”.
— Tat’uRadebe (@hlubizer) May 9, 2021
PICTURE: Getaway Gallery
