Ethiopia Receives 2.2mln More Vaccine Doses Donation from China

ADDIS ABABA – China has donated additional 2.2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Ethiopia, said the Ministry of Health on Thursday.

The fifth round shipment of the Sinopharm vaccine raises the total doses China provided to Ethiopia to 9.7 million doses.

Zhao Zhiyuan, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, said Beijing would remain committed in supporting Ethiopia’s fight against the pandemic.

As of Wednesday evening, Ethiopia confirmed nearly 460, 000 cases of Covid-19 – an acute respiratory disease that claimed the lives of 7,190 people, to date.

Health Minister Dr. Lia Tadesse has also extended her gratitude to the government of China and its people for the latest support.

“My heartfelt appreciation to the Government of China for today’s donation of 2.2 million of Sino-pharm vaccines,” Dr. Lia said.

The Minister has also extended her appreciation to the Chinese embassy in Addis Ababa “for the fifth round of vaccines and the commitment to improve COVID 19 vaccine access in Ethiopia.”

The latest vaccine donation from China will provide impetus to Ethiopia’s ongoing push to control the pandemic, according to Ministry of Health.

The East African nation started offering Covid-19 vaccine to its citizens on March 13, 2021. Since then, the country has administered nearly 11 million doses and vaccinated more than 9.3 people fully.

 

Featured Image Caption: Previously, China provided 7.2 million doses of vaccines to Ethiopia in four rounds of shipments. [Photo File]