Will COVID-19 vaccination hit Masisi’s target of 64% by December?

Sceptics point to the initial optimism that greeted the start of the COVID-19 vaccination programme in March. At that time, the Health Ministry had just wrapped up a lightning speed countrywide measles campaign, vaccinating 220,000 children within 10 days, through 700 vaccine sites including health posts and mobile stops. All that was needed was for the vaccines to arrive and the entire eligible population could be sorted out within a month, health authorities said at the time, buzzing with confidence. With an initial budget of P164 million for distribution and other vaccine-related costs, authorities in March had pledged to seek out each eligible Motswana to get jabs in arms.

“Some we will follow by car, others by boat but no one will be left behind,” then Health and Wellness permanent secretary, Kabelo Ebineng told a televised briefing at the time.