Cameroon to start the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination targeting persons with a high risk of severe sickness and death as new soaring cases have been observed these past two months.

There are already vaccines against the deadly COVID-19 and Cameroon is to start the first phase of vaccination.

The first phase of the vaccination against the COVID-19 will target persons at risk of severe sickness and death. And as things stand, public Health officials in Cameroon have begun preparations.

The Chinese Ambassador to Cameroon, China is offering 200,000 samples of the COVID19 vaccines to Cameroon.

About 9976 new cases of COVID-19 being recorded over the previous two months, and this calls for serious attention.

The Public Health Minister, Dr Manaouda Malachie, Communication Minister, Rene Emmanuel Sadi and the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele said Cameroonians must put their hands on deck the fight the virus that is fast spreading in the country.

This current soaring cases of COVID-19 is owing to the total disrespect of preventive measures largely accounts for the increase in cases.

With the Covid-19 vaccine, public health officials are hoping to prevent the further spread of the disease and those who are most vulnerable have to be immunised.

When will the first phase of the vaccination star?

According to the information from the Minister of Public Health during the press conference on the first of March 2021, the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will arrive in Cameroon by the end of March.

Also, the necessary documentation required for the procurement of the Covax vaccine is available.

However, the vaccine will be administered only on the condition that infections spiral out of control.

Preparations prior to the arrival of the vaccines

As we earlier said, public health officials, said preparations were already ongoing to start this first phase of vaccination against the Coronavirus.

During this preparatory phase, the health experts are working on accomplishing some pre-vaccination tasks which include;

-communication and public awareness
-logistical preparations
-setting up an immunization plan,
-prioritizing target groups
-implementation of the quality control system
– the development of immunization plan to reach the essential target groups.
– Health workers to administer vaccines to be trained for 3 weeks

Before the vaccines begin to be administered, cold chain equipment will be deployed to health facilities that will be vaccination centres for COVID -19.

Who will be vaccinated?

Some age groups are more susceptible to contracting this deadly disease. People like pregnant women and children are always among the group of people who are less immunised against certain infections.

According to information from Dr Shalom NDOULA, the first vaccination will be just for a small group of people who are at risk, and very exposed especially people with pre-existing health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, who are at high risk of severe forms of COVID.

The health expert says the vaccine will not be for everyone. However, after the first vaccination, the country’s epidemiological situation will be reviewed to determine if it will be relevant to extend the vaccination to other groups of people.