Workers transfer boxes of COVID-19 vaccines arrived at Abidjan International Airport in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Feb. 26, 2021. Cote d'Ivoire on Friday received 504,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the vaccine-sharing COVAX initiative, according to the country's Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene. The vaccine is produced by the pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca and will be administered in two doses in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. Cote d'Ivoire is the second African country after Ghana to receive COVID-19 vaccines under the WHO-backed COVAX mechanism. (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)
ABIDJAN, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cote d'Ivoire on Friday received 504,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the vaccine-sharing COVAX initiative, according to the country's Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene.
The vaccine is produced by the pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca and will be administered in two doses in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.
Cote d'Ivoire is the second African country after Ghana to receive COVID-19 vaccines under the WHO-backed COVAX mechanism.
The West African nation is scheduled to start the "free and voluntary" vaccination campaign on Monday.
"The priority targets are the defense and security forces, teachers, people over the age of 50 and people with chronic illnesses," said Minister of Health and Public Hygiene Eugene Aka Aouele.
As of Friday, Cote d'Ivoire has reported 32,478 cases and 190 deaths related to the coronavirus.
