Rwanda receives the first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines around 15 February 2021. The Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije, has just announced this Tuesday, February 2.
From 15 February, Rwanda could launch vaccination against coronavirus using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. 102,000 doses are expected in less than two weeks to which 996,000 doses of the AsraZeneca vaccine are to be added a little later. Medical personnel and security agents will be protected as a priority.
“Rwanda, South Africa, Cape Verde and Tunisia are the first African countries that will be served because they meet all the requirements,” said the Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije on National Television.
In the second quarter of this year 2021, other vaccines will arrive in the country, according to Minister Daniel Ngamije. “By the end of the year, 60% of the population will already be vaccinated,” Minister Ngamije promised.
For the time being, Rwanda seems to be on the right track towards mastering this pandemic. With the prescription of favipiravir, the number of deaths is falling and the number of people who have recovered is on the rise. The latest update of the health situation reveals a recovery rate of 66.4%, or 185 people discharged from hospital and two patients who lost their lives.
According to Minister Ngamije, more effective medicines have been ordered to save as many lives as possible.
However, Dr. Daniel Ngamije insists on prevention because prevention is better than cure. “Even if everything is done to properly equip our hospitals and provide them with the necessary medicines, there can be no shortage of human lives lost,” he said, showing why we must continue to respect the barriers.
Gérard Rugambwa
