Addis Ababa, April 12, 2021(Walta) – Ethiopia has begun vaccinating refugees and front-line health professionals in the refugee program.
According to Agency for Refugees and Returnees Affairs, the vaccination started in Gambella, across all camps on 5th April 2021. The agency also said 765 individuals, 405 (53%) being refugees, got the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
This has been done with close collaboration with EPIHI, Regional government, Regional Health Office, UNHCR, WHO, Woreda Health Offices, Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Agency, NGOs, and Refugee Committees.
The plan is to provide the second dose of the vaccine in three months of time. In the second phase, vulnerable groups will be included as per the national strategy directed by the Federal Ministry of Health.
Ethiopia is working to guarantee equitable access to Covid-19 vaccination with the limited resource it is receiving from the international community.
The agency has called upon the international community to continue support to Ethiopia in addressing refugees in need with COVID 19 vaccines.