Sudan receives 800,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine

Shots will be administered to healthcare workers, the over-45s with chronic heath problems and those in high transmission areas

The first shipment of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine arrives at Khartoum airport in the Sudanese capital. The delivery comprises 828,000 doses. AFP

More than 800,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine arrive in Sudan. Authorities will begin inoculating frontline medical staff next week. AFP

Sudan is set to receive 3.4 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot in the coming months through Covax, a UN-led initiative that provides vaccines to poor countries. AFP

Workers from the UN children's fund supervise the arrival of the first batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at Khartoum airport. AFP

A World Health Organisation employee checks the shipment of more than 800,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine after it arrives in Sudanese capital Khartoum. AFP

Sudan will begin to vaccinate frontline medical staff against Covid-19 next week after receiving 828,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot. AFP

Sudan is expected to receive 3.4 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through the UN's Covax initiative. AFP

Unicef workers receive a briefing at Khartoum airport after the first shipment of Covid-19 vaccine arrives. AFP

The first shipment of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine arrives at Khartoum airport in the Sudanese capital. AFP

Covax has sent 800,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Sudan.

The vaccines will be administered next week to healthcare workers in the country, the over-45s with chronic medical conditions and those living in high transmission areas.

The vaccines were delivered with Unicef’s support through Covax, which is a coalition led by the World Health Organisation, the Global Vaccines Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

Covax aims to have equitably distributed at least two billion vaccine doses worldwide by the end of this year.

The delivery follows the arrival of several tonnes of medical supplies in Sudan, including syringes, last month.

The WHO has been working with Sudanese authorities to train vaccinators and ensure appropriate safety protocols are in place when the doses are administered.

Dr Omer El Nagieb, the country's Health Minister, said the vaccines would help Sudan to eventually return to normality.

“Our hope in recovery from the pandemic is through the vaccines,” said Abdullah Fadil, Unicef's Sudan representative.

“Vaccines have reduced the scourge of numerous infectious diseases, saved millions of lives and have effectively eliminated many life-threatening diseases."

Sudan has reported 28,505 cases of coronavirus and 1,892 deaths since the start of its outbreak in March 2020.