Patrick Achi (L), the secretary general of the presidency of Cote d'Ivoire, receives a jab of the COVID-19 vaccine in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, March 1, 2021. Cote d'Ivoire joined the first COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in the world on Monday with doses provided by COVAX, a global initiative for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)
ABIDJAN, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Cote d'Ivoire on Monday launched its vaccination campaign against COVID-19, three days after receiving 504,000 doses of vaccine as part of the COVAX mechanism initiated by the World Health Organization.
"We are happy and proud to launch the campaign, Cote d'Ivoire is one of the first countries in the world to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine as part of the COVAX mechanism," said the country's Minister of State Patrick Achi, after receiving the first injection.
Achi said that in addition to these 504,000 doses, Cote d'Ivoire plans to buy millions of more doses from its own resources so as to vaccinate every citizen who needs them.
The country intends to inoculate 13.9 million people representing 49.3 percent of the total population, according to Minister of Health Aouele Eugene Aka.
The first phase of vaccination prioritizes health professionals, defense and security forces and teachers. People aged over 50 will be inoculated in the second phase and those aged 18 to 49 in the third phase.
To date, Cote d'Ivoire has reported 32,754 confirmed cases including 32,624 people cured and 192 deaths. Enditem
