NAIROBI (Reuters) – Seychelles has started vaccinating its population against COVID-19 with doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine, said President Wavel Ramkalawan.
Ramkalawan’s office said in a statement seen by Reuters on Monday that the initial target was for the vaccine to reach 25,000 people and the first priority was for healthcare professionals.
The statement said the Indian Ocean archipelago received 50,000 doses of the vaccine as a donation from the United Arab Emirates.
Ramkalawan’s office said he, former President Danny Faure and other senior government officials were vaccinated as part of efforts to increase public confidence in participating in the exercise.
The report said the government of India offered another 100,000 doses of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccine that were due to arrive in late January.
With a population of just over 98,000 people, Seychelles reported a total of 531 cases of coronavirus and one death, data from its ministry of health showed.
(Reporting by George Obulutsa)