SOUTH Sudan received its first dose of coronavirus vaccines on Thursday.
A total of 132,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca shots are the first of many shipments to the country through Covax, an initiative to secure Covid-19 vaccines to poorer countries.
Health Minister Elizabeth Achuei said the country is expecting a total of some 800,000 doses in the first half of 2021 through Covax.
“I am a happy woman today, and I truly thank God that we have received the Covid-19 vaccines for our people,” Achuei said.
“The Covid-19 vaccines will help us protect our population against Covid-19 infection and prepare for a return to normal life,” she added.
South Sudan plans to eventually procure five million doses of vaccines, enough to protect 20% of its population, estimated at 12 million people before the epidemic.
Vaccination will be voluntary and free.
The country has so far recorded almost 10,000 coronavirus cases and 107 deaths.
AFRICA NEWS