Is Zimbabwe's COVID-19 vaccination rate among the highest in Africa? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
April 13, 2021
CLAIM: Zimbabwe has the third highest rate of vaccinations in SADC and 8th highest in Africa, as a share of the population.
Source: President Emmerson Mnangagwa, through his official Twitter account.
VERDICT: Correct.
In a Twitter post on April 12, 2021, urging Zimbabweans to get vaccinated against COVID-19, President Mnangagwa said:
“Zimbabwe has the third highest rate of vaccinations in SADC and 8th highest in Africa as a share of the population.”
Zimbabwe's #COVID19 vaccination programme is working!
Zimbabwe has the 3rd highest rate of vaccinations in SADC and 8th highest in Africa as a share of the population.
We cannot lose this momentum – if you are eligible, I urge you all to get your jab #ZimVaccination
What does the data say?
Statistics compiled from official sources by open data portal Our World in Data show that, as of April 11, 2021, 1,3% of Zimbabwe’s population had been vaccinated against COVID-19, giving the country the third highest inoculation rate in the southern African region, behind Seychelles with a continent-leading 65,6% and ESwatini, with 1,75%.
On a continental basis, Zimbabwe was indeed in eighth position, behind Seychelles, Morocco (12,12%), Sao Tome & Principe (4,44%), Rwanda (2,69%), Ghana (2,26%), Senegal (2,05%) and ESwatini.
Zimbabwe’s vaccination rate is currently ahead of countries such as Tunisia (1,21%)< Malawi (1,07%), Togo (1%), Equatorial Guinea (0,79%), Kenya (0,78%), Angola (0,75%), Botswana (0,55%) and South Africa (0,49%).
CONCLUSION:
Mnangagwa’s claim on Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 vaccination rates is rated correct at the time it was made.
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