05 Sep 2021

With the expected arrival of over a million COVID-19 vaccine doses by end of this month, Botswana hopes to accelerate its vaccination campaign.

Speaking in a televised national address Friday, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said the country expected to take delivery of more government procured vaccine doses comprising Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna this month.

Over 400 000 doses of Sinovac arrived today.

The plan, Dr Masisi said,  was to vaccinate close to a million Batswana by the end of October.

He said the expected vaccine doses, combined with those already received, would ensure that by the end of October,  975 782 Batswana or 64 per cent of the target population, was vaccinated.

President Masisi told the nation that one-fifth of the eligible population was now fully inoculated.

“I am happy to inform you that to date, the country has managed to fully vaccinate 21.6 per cent of the currently eligible population of about 1 531 000 people,” Dr Masisi said.

He said the second phase of the vaccination plan targeting the 30-54 age group but starting with those aged between 45 and 54 due to limited supply of vaccines, was embarked upon last month.

Frontline workers, including those in the education sector, were prioritised in the second phase, said Dr Masisi. Ends