The Ministry of Health has expressed optimism of achieving its targets of vaccinating 30 percent of the country’s population before the end of this year.
Rwanda’s vaccination efforts have been boosted with shipment of more doses, the latest of which comprised more than 188,000 of the Pfizer vaccine received from the United States of America on Wednesday, August 18, as part of President Joe Biden’s commitment to donate 500 million doses to about 100 countries over the next two years.
On Friday this week, more 300,000 doses will be received from the US, to make a total of 489,060 altogether.
Speaking during the reception of the vaccines at the Kigali International Airport, Dr. Daniel Ngamije, the Minister of Health said the donation shows good cooperation between the USA and Rwanda, noting that Rwanda is the first country in Africa to get the vaccine doses pledged by US President Joe Biden.
"The vaccination program is continuing as we get more doses that are either bought by the government or donated by partner states. We are continuing to inoculate Rwandans in Kigali and upcountry,” he said.
"The target we have is that before the year ends, we will have vaccinated at least 30 percent of the population, and then next year, we hope to reach 60 percent,” he added.
Peter Vrooman, the US ambassador to Rwanda said: "We are very happy that we finally have vaccine doses that are among those that President Biden committed to,” he said.
"And we are happy that Rwanda stores those vaccines in people’s arms,” he added.
Meanwhile, another 200,000 doses of Covid Sinopharm vaccine arrived Thursday morning from China.
The consignment was received at the Kigali International Airport by Health minister Dr Daniel Ngamije.
Wu Peng, the Director-General of the Department of African Affairs, at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had tweeted Wednesday: "The airplane carrying the first batch of China-donated vaccines for Rwanda has taken off this morning! Hope it will boost Rwanda’s vaccination campaign."
Amb. Rao Hongwei, the Chinese envoy to Rwanda, signed delivery documents with Ngamije at the airport.