All aged above 65 eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine: Health Minister
ADDIS ABABA – Adults 65 and above years old will become eligible for COVID-19 vaccination starting from Monday, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health announced.
Ethiopia is using the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to protect people against Covid-19, and expected to administrate the Chinese vaccine soon.
On March 7, Ethiopia received nearly 2.2 million doses of the AstraZeneza vaccine through COVAX.
A week after, health officials began the vaccination campaign which initially targeted health workers.
On Thursday, Minister of Health Dr. Lia Tadesse said adults aged 65 and above – will get the jab as of Monday.
They only have to show their Kebele Identity Card to receive the vaccination as per the requirement of the health ministry.
Members of the public aged 55 to 64 with compromised immune systems due to any illness will also be offered the vaccine, Dr. Lia said
They, however, must have medical evidence from a doctor and need to register at a nearby health center or primary hospital to receive the vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccines remain a strategic approach for the prevention of severe cases of and COVID-19 related deaths, according to health officials.
With a population of over 110 million, Ethiopia has recorded 208, 961 infections and 2, 890 deaths since its first case was announced in March last year.