South Sudan to begin vaccine rollout in ten states this week

JUBA-South Sudan government said it will start rolling out this week the vaccination against the COVID-19 in ten states.

The vaccines which will be taken to the states are part of 132,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from COVAX Facility.

Speaking to reporters in Juba during the weekly media briefing on Sunday, Richard Lako, the COVID-19 Incident Manager, said they will start rolling out this week the vaccination against COVID-19 in states

 “We expect to end vaccination here next week (this week) and reach healthcare workers in the states,” Lako told reporters in Juba on Sunday.

Lako said the Ministry targets to vaccinate 27,000 health workers across the country.

“We are targeting 27,000 health workers in total in the entire country then we cover vulnerable groups like the elderly, and others with underlying conditions,” he said.

The World’s youngest nation received 132,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX facility on March 25, 2021.

South Sudan launched its vaccination campaign against COVID-19 in the capital Juba on April 6 and about 947 health workers received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.