Sunday March 7, 2021
Djibouti (HOL) - Djibouti has received its first batch of the COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX initiative on Saturday, becoming the second nation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to obtain the vaccine.
Mohamed Warsame Diriye, Djibouti's Health Minister, told the BBC that the vaccine would be administered to frontline workers first, followed by citizens over 50.
"We have been waiting for this vaccine, this is the first shipment, and we will deliver the vaccine to those who need it the most, including healthcare workers and, and the elderly," he said.
"The vaccines are a critical part of controlling the spread of the virus and our eventual return to normalcy," said Diriye. He urged those eligible to register and get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Dr. Mondher Letaief, the WHO Representative in Djibouti, said that the vaccine's arrival heralded a new moment in the fight against COVID-19 in Djibouti.
"The arrival of these vaccines marks a new phase in the ongoing response to COVID-19 in Djibouti. The more vaccinated people, the more effective the vaccines will become in slowing the spread of the virus, driving down infection rates, and protecting the whole of society. But we should always remember that vaccinations only work when they are combined with all other public health strategies."
Djibouti hopes to vaccinate 715,000 people in its vaccination plan.
Sudan was the first nation to receive the COVID-19 vaccine via the COVAX Facility.
Since the onset of the pandemic, Djibouti has recorded 6,130 confirmed cases and 63 deaths.