Ethiopia to Roll Out First COVID-19 vaccines on Saturday

Date:

Share post:

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced that the first COVID-19 vaccines will be given starting from Saturday, March 13, 2021.

The nation received its first 2.2 million doses of vaccine against the coronavirus on Sunday. The doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, were allocated under the UN-led Covax initiative, which is working to facilitate vaccine access for poorer countries.

According to the Ministry, during vaccination, priority will be given to those with high priority of exposure to the virus, such as health workers, older people, people with existing health conditions, and those engaged in the transport sector.

Ethiopia has secured nine million doses of COVID-19 vaccines until April and hopes to inoculate at least a fifth of its 110 million people by the end of the year.

The Ministry had stated the country would need 13 billion Ethiopian birr ($328 million) for vaccines and related expenses, which will be covered by the government and international donations.

Ethiopia is not doing any procurement of doses independently but only through the COVAX facility. COVAX is co-led by the GAVI alliance, which secures vaccines for poor countries, the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the U.N. Children’s Fund.

Earlier this month, COVAX said it had allocated at least 330 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for poorer countries and will aim to deliver these and many millions more in the first half of 2021.

Ethiopia has so far reported 168,335 cases of Covid-19, the fifth-highest total in Africa and the highest in East Africa, while 2451 have died from the virus.

Over the past month, cases have risen by 12 percent on average each week, and deaths have risen by 37 percent on average each week, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Addis Insight
Addis Insighthttps://addisinsight.net/
Addis Insight is Ethiopia’s fastest growing digital news platform, providing consumers with the latest news from Ethiopia and its diaspora. We provide marketers with innovative opportunities to leverage our stories and overall brand with a fiercely curious and highly engaged audience.
spot_img

Related articles

Ethiopia Earns $55 Million from Bitcoin Mining: A Growing Global Player

Ethiopia’s role in the Bitcoin mining industry is on the rise, bringing in a remarkable $55 million over...

Ethiopian Airlines’ Airbus A350-1000 Makes First Flight to Lagos

Ethiopian Airlines has announced that its first Airbus A350-1000 aircraft in Africa will make its inaugural flight to...

Ethiopian Airlines Launches Air Congo: A New Chapter in African Aviation

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest and most ambitious airline, is preparing for its newest venture, Air Congo, set to...

Ethiopia’s 900 Billion Birr Bond Plan: EEP, Sugar Corporation, and Railway Corporation Lead in Major Debt Overhaul for Commercial Bank

The Ethiopian government has unveiled a major financial proposal to issue 900 billion birr in government bonds. This...