Somalia’s Health Minister Fawziya Abikar Nur [Photo: Somaliland Standard]
Somalia received 200,000 doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine donated by China on Sunday.
This follows a deal signed last week by the Somali government and Sinopharm, the Chinese company that produces the COVID vaccine.
Somalia’s Minister of Health and Human Services, Fawziya Abikar Nur, lauded China’s support noting that the country is at a critical point in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
She said that 100, 000 people will benefit from the vaccine.
“We thank China for its support to the Somali Government and people and it always stands side by side with Somalia and provides assistance,” said
According to Abikar Nur, the vaccine will be distributed to all Federal Member States of the Somalia government.
Speaking separately, Chinese Ambassador to Somalia Qin Jian said that China is the first country to provide vaccine assistance to Somalia.
“China has fulfilled its solemn commitment to make COVID-19 vaccine as a global public product with practical actions, promoted the fair distribution of global vaccines and made China’s contribution to the realization of vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries,” said Qin.
Somalia’s ministry of health says it is giving priority to the frontline health workers, essential service providers and the elderly.
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