The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) on Thursday 7^th October 2021, joined the President of the Republic of Zambia His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, the Ministry of Health, collaborating partners and other stakeholders    in the re-launch of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign, held at the Olympic Youth Development Center  (OYDC)  in Lusaka.

Speaking at the event, President Hakainde Hichilema encouraged all citizens to turn out in numbers and get vaccinated to save lives from the deadly pandemic that had claimed a lot of lives.

“My family and I took the lead in getting vaccinated together. I am vaccinated, my wife Mutinta is vaccinated and all our three (3) children are vaccinated. What are you still waiting for?”, President Hichilema said.

The President appreciated efforts which were being made by stakeholders such as CIDRZ, who through science and research were collaborating with the Ministry of Health and supplemented efforts of the frontline workers in doing everything possible to save lives and protect the country from the pandemic.

Meanwhile, CIDRZ utilized the occasion by offering free services and educating the masses on some of the services being offered by their various projects.

Further CIDRZ shared some of the many studies which were being conducted by the organisation in line with the fight against COVID-19 such as the immunogesity of COVID -19 in Zambia.

This is a study which looks at the three (3) vaccines including AstraZeneca, Jonson and Jonson and Sinopharm that were currently being administered in Zambia.

CIDRZ Research Fellow, Dr. Luiza Hatyoka explained that the study was aimed at profiling the immune response of the Covid -19 vaccine in Zambia by looking at the immune response of those vaccinated 6 months after and a year later to help determine if there was need for a booster dose or not.

CIDRZ has continued supplementing government efforts in the fight against COVID-19 through the COVID-19 testing services being offered at CIDRZ Central Laboratory located at Kalingalina Clinic in Lusaka.