To continue combatting Covid-19 epidemic, Rwanda’s vaccination efforts towards the disease was shifted towards the young ones after achieving a higher vaccination percentage from the older citizens.
In late September 2022, Rwanda commenced the Covid-19 vaccination program for children under 12. As the program continues, health officials in Gashora of Bugesera District, have taken vaccination to ECDs (Early Childhood Development centres).
Parents in the area are very responsive to the program to vaccinate their children against Covid-19 saying that its the only way to protect their children and defeat the pandemic.
Dative Mukagasana, a resident of Kagomasi in Gashora Sector revealed that she was one of those who automatically seized the chance to have her children vaccinated against Covid-19.
“I never had any reservations to vaccinate my children,” she underlines. Adding that she was vaccinated alongside other residents and no one had any serious side effects.
Jeannette Nyiramajyambere, also a resident of Kagomasi notes that Covid-19 killed a lot of people and had observed that those who were vaccinated stood a chance to fight off the disease.
Nyiramajyambere further adds that based on the peace President Paul Kagame has created in Rwanda, he cannot decide on a bad outcome for them.
When a group of journalists from Rwanda media network against HIV/AIDS and for Health promotion (ABASIRWA) visited the vaccination site on March 30, 2023, found that some children under ECD were being vaccinated against Covid-19.
Landouald Habimana, the head of Gashora Health Centre said that following the vaccination of adults and primary school children, they were now administering shots for children between 5 to 11 years old.
Landouald Habimana, the head of Gashora Health Centre
Habimana revealed that they have a target of vaccinating about 942 children registered in 36 ECDs found in Gashora sector.
He added that this vaccination program for children will continue in order to bring health services to all people. However, before children are vaccinated, the health personnel must first seek the consent of parents.
The head of Gashora Health Centre explained that they were administering children with doses of Pfizer Vaccine Pediatric formulation as approved by different regulatory bodies including Rwanda FDA and approved for Emergency use by World Health Organization.
According to Yvette Imanishimwe, the Vice Mayor of Bugesera District, Covid-19 vaccine has had a positive impact in fighting against the pandemic. Currently, there is no single case of Covid-19 in the district.
In Bugesera District, the vaccination coverage of children has reached 43%, or 30,442 children from a total of 71,570 children as of 28/03/2023.
