Swaziland asked for 500,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine, set to get 14,400

Swaziland (eSwatini) is due to receive its first coronavirus vaccines since March 2021, Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi, said on Tuesday (8 June 2021).

The Swazi Government had made similar promises about vaccine delivery in the past that were not fulfilled.

To date only about 35,000 doses have been administered in the kingdom which has a population of about 1.1 million people.

The Minister herself was among the first people in Swaziland – along with absolute monarch King Mswati III, the Royal Family and other Cabinet ministers – to receive a jab.

In a statement, Nkosi said the kingdom would receive 14,400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX Facility, which is a global initiative to get coronavirus (COVID) vaccines to poorer countries.  It was due to arrive on Tuesday. Swaziland had asked for 500,000 doses.

To be effective a person needs to take two doses over a period of about 12 weeks.

Nkosi said, ‘These doses will be used to provide second doses for all the healthcare workers who received their first doses.’

She added healthcare workers who did not get vaccinated first time would have a chance now.

She said, ‘The remaining doses will be prioritised for the members of the public that will have become due to receive their second doses whilst the Ministry continues to work on bringing 500,000 doses from AstraZeneca.’

See also

Swaziland fails to hit own deadline to get 500,000 coronavirus vaccines

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/05/swaziland-fails-to-hit-own-deadline-to.html