Sudan Launches COVID Vaccination Campaign
KHARTOUM, SUDAN - Sudan this week launched its COVID-19 vaccination
campaign, after receiving its first shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine
earlier this month through the global COVAX initiative for equitable
vaccine distribution in developing countries.
Officials are giving priority to the elderly and to health care workers, most of whom have been working without adequate personal protective equipment since the pandemic began a year ago. Scores of health care workers have contracted the virus themselves and lost their lives while caring for others
Dalia Idrees, a member of Sudan's coronavirus emergency committee, says
the COVAX initiative will provide Sudan with enough vaccine to cover 20%
of the population.
As there is competition to receive the vaccine, the priority is for front-line workers in all Sudanese states, including isolation centers, pharmacies, hospitals and primary health care centers in all public, private and military sectors without any exceptions, Idrees said.
At least 60 health care workers have died since a second wave of COVID hit Sudan in December.
But some health care professionals feel optimistic with the start of vaccinations.
Dr. Hanana Mohamed, who has been treating COVID patients in Sudanese
hospitals, says all of the front-line doctors, nurses and workers are in
danger of getting infected with COVID. She called the start of
vaccination 'a very big step' in her country's efforts to defeat the
coronavirus.
Another physician, Dr. Abeer Othman, thinks the vaccine will give health care workers a much-needed lift.
She says the vaccination campaign is encouraging for front-line workers,
especially those in isolation centers after they suffering for a long
time struggling with the coronavirus. The vaccine, she said, will
motivate health care workers to defeat indications increasing number of
cases that seem to be indicative of a third wave spreading in the
country.
Sudan has registered nearly 29,000 cases of coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic last year, with just over 1,900 deaths.
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