In October of 2021, as vaccines became more readily available, the Ndoombo Community Dispensary became an official COVID-19 vaccination site.  Initially, the Johnson and Johnson single dose vaccine was available. However, now with more research out supporting the effectiveness of two dose vaccines, Sinovac, a two dose series, is available at the dispensary.  William, our Medical Officer at the dispensary, reports that the vaccines are ‘very accessible’ to patients.  The Tanzanian Ministry of Health provides the vaccines and syringes and if the dispensary runs out, it’s a quick phone call and more are delivered. 

 

As of February 15, 2022, 166 patients and all of our staff have been vaccinated at the dispensary.  There has been a fairly widespread reluctance, however, for many people to step up and become vaccinated.  Much ‘disinformation’ has been spread throughout Tanzania concerning the vaccine.  Polite Mbise (in the striped shirt), one of our Board members in Tanzania and the Dispensary’s dentist, can be seen in the picture below talking to people individually about the benefits of getting the COVID vaccine. Our staff has found this individual contact to be a good way to educate people and develop a feeling of confidence about becoming vaccinated.    

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The Ndoombo Community Dispensary also provides vaccinations for a wide variety of diseases, including oral polio vaccine, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis vaccine, Hepatitis B, Bib (PENTA), Rotavirus (ROTA), Tetanus Toxoid vaccine, Inactivated Polio Vaccine, Measles and Rubella and the HPV vaccine.  These vaccines play a crucial role in creating a fighting chance against bacteria and viruses that we are inadvertently exposed to everyday.