Afghanistan will receive its first shipment of coronavirus vaccines in mid-2021, which will be for 3 percent of the population, officials said on Wednesday.
Akmal Samsor, a spokesman for Public Health Ministry, said that the vaccine will initially be administered on people at higher risk from coronavirus.
The ministry plans to receive vaccine for 40 percent of the population by the end of 2022.
He said that Afghanistan could receive greater number of coronavirus vaccine if global production increases.
The official said that Afghanistan plans to receive coronavirus vaccine through the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, a public–private global health partnership, and the World Bank.
He said that vaccines coming through the GVA will be free and that the government seeks to initially buy Moderna vaccine. He said that Afghanistan cannot store Pfizer vaccine as it requires lower temperature.
Samsor also said that 17 oxygen plants will be established in hospitals across the country in the next two years.
He said that the coronavirus problem will remain until 2027.
