The health authorities in South Sudan have said that they have so far vaccinated more than 16,000 people against Covid-19. South Sudan has a population of 13 million.
In March, the country received 132,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from the Covax facility, and another consignment of 59,000 doses from the African Union (AU) and South African telecom giant, MTN.
But the 59,000 doses donated by the AU could not be used as they expired on 13 April before South Sudan could start a vaccine rollout.
Other doses have been donated to neighbouring Kenya.
But now the vaccine programme has started.
On Monday, Dr John Romunu Pasquale, head of preventive health services at the health ministry, said that 16,509 doses had so far been administered.
“We are doing well with vaccination, I am happy to inform you that now all the 10 [regional] states and the three administrative areas are having Covid-19 vaccination,” he told reporters.
South Sudan has so far recorded 115 deaths from coronavirus.
