Nearly two million Ethiopians have been inoculated against Covid-19 during the first round immunisation campaign launched in mid-March.
Like many African countries, the country is facing shortages of COVAX vaccine in for its second round after Serum Institute of India decided to produce the vaccine for the demand in India only, according to Ministry of Health.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Health Minister Dr Lia Tadesse said the government is working with other international organizations to curb the shortages of vaccines in Ethiopia.
Activities are underway in partnership with the African Union and other international organizations by allocating additional finance to increase the second round vaccine in kind and volume, according to state-run Ethiopian News Agency.
Dr. Lia said the process has already been started to purchase AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
The minister said the government is also working to get additional vaccines from various donors by using embassies and consulates located in different parts of the world.
She also announced some 400,000 vaccines will soon be obtained from COVAX global partnership in a bid to provide the second round of vaccination.
“By enhancing the availability of COVID-19 vaccines in the country using various mechanisms, the second round of vaccination will be conducted soon based on the medical procedures of the World Health Organization,” the Minister said.
The focus of second round vaccination will also on people most vulnerable to the pandemic, Dr. Lia said adding that the nation has been undertaking activities to produce COVID-19 vaccine locally.
Apart from 2.2 million COVID-19 vaccines obtained from the COVAX, Ethiopia received 300,000 doses from Sinopharm.
