Covid-19 vaccination drive begins in Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Covid-19 vaccine administration drive began in Kabul on Tuesday, with President Ashraf Ghani stressing transparency in the campaign.

The first positive case of Covid-19 in Afghanistan was detected on March 15, 2020. So far 55,646 coronavirus cases, 2,435 deaths and 48,895 recoveries have been reported in the country.

Kabul was given 500,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine by India on February 7, 2021.

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said the vaccination drive began today in Kabul. Health workers, security forces and media professionals are being vaccinated in the first phase.

MoPH said the vaccine administration had started after its verification by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Following the ceremony, a journalist and three security personnel were administered the vaccine in the capital today.

On the occasion, President Ghani said prioritization of the security forces in the drive would prove the government’s commitment towards them. All health officials have been instructed to ensure justice in administering the vaccine.

Ghani praised the struggle of health workers in fighting the virus. He hailed them as real heroes, who had proved they remained undeterred by the pandemic threat.

“Those medical workers who lost their lives in battling the virus would always be remembered,” Ghani added.

Afghanistan was still faced with the threat of coronavirus variants and instructed the Afghans to follow MoPH guidelines.

Dr. Wahid Majrooh, acting minister of public health, claimed Afghanistan was efficiently combating the virus just like developed countries.

Also on Tuesday, the ministry approved the vaccination drive, he said, adding that 1,3m more doses of the vaccine would be imported and the drive would continue.

hr/mud

Views: 106