• Vaccine approval is something that sector players have been looking forward to.
• It will help protect the frontline staff as well as the general population, and it will send a positive message to the rest of the world.
• Its good news and the Association is happy that government has finally made that decision.
Livingstone Tourism Association (LTA) says government’s decision to approve the Vaccination program for Zambia will help protect frontline staff in the hospitality industry.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Association Acting Chairman Hillary Kashempa said this is what players in the sector have been looking forward to; therefore it is gratifying to note that government has finally approved the Vaccine.
Mr. Kashempa stated that it is the Association’s hope the vaccine will be made available in the country as soon as possible, because it will also send a positive message to the rest of the world that Zambia is safe, prepared, and taking the prevention of Covid-19 seriously.
“Vaccine approval is something that we have been looking forward to and we are very happy that the government has finally approved. We have really been pushing for that and it has come in timely. I’m hoping that we don’t take too much time before we get on the ground and start vaccinating people.”
“So we are hoping as well that the vaccine will be made available in the country as soon as possible, because it will help protect the frontline staff as well as the general population, and it will send a positive message to the rest of the world that we are prepared, we are safe and we are taking the prevention of Covid-19 seriously,” Mr. Kashempa said.
He added that the Association will support and rally behind government on the Vaccine program.
“So that is something that we have been looking forward to, its good news and we are happy that government has finally made that decision, we support and rally behind them on that one,” he added.
Last week, Cabinet approved the acquisition, deployment and financing of the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to Minister of Health Dr. Jonas Chanda, Cabinet has agreed to acquire the free COVAX vaccine financed by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) under the World Health Organization (WHO) arrangement for the first phase, target about 3 million Zambians aged 18 years and above.
Dr. Chanda disclosed that government is pursuing avenues to bring in the Covid-19 vaccines sooner following the current delivery delays from the Serum Institute of India under the COVAX facility which will see the deliveries sometime around April or May.