The Minister for Health Dr. Daniel Ngamije, on Friday, March 5 was inoculated against Covid-19, as he launched a nationwide campaign that targets to vaccinate millions of Rwandans.

Ngamije got his jab at Masaka District Hospital in Kigali, one of the fifty district and referral hospitals across the country that received over 347,000 doses of the vaccine.

On the national level, the main event to launch the vaccination campaign was held at Masaka District Hospital, and it was attended by several citizens and healthcare workers who were given priority in the inoculation exercise since they are part of the groups that are at higher risk of the virus.

Speaking to the media about 30 minutes after getting vaccinated, Ngamije said he was feeling good and had not experienced any health issue, as he encouraged Rwandans to take the jab.

"I feel good as you can see. I don’t have any health issue in my body,” he said.

"The vaccine has come in timely, and we have people that are well trained to do the job. The process is going well,” he added.

The vaccines arrived in the country on Wednesday, March 3 and were acquired under the COVAX Facility.

They are of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer varieties.

The hospitals that received the vaccines are tasked to distribute them to 508 health centres in their respective catchment area, which have to vaccinate a total of 171,480 people identified as high-risk groups from Friday, March 5 to around Saturday.

The identified priority groups, who will receive two doses each for full protection include; frontline workers, people above 65 years, as well as those with underlying health conditions.

The official launch of the country's vaccination at Masaka District Hospital in Kicukiro District, Kigali on March 5, 2020. All Photo by Dan Nsengiyumva