COVID-19 vaccines: Rwanda says vaccinating over 2 Million a milestone

By Jean d'Amour Mbonyinshuti

Rwanda has distributed COVID-19 vaccines to more that two million people including a million and half who are fully vaccinated.

The minister for Health Dr. Daniel Ngamije said that of the target population of 7.8million people (representing 60 per cent of the Rwandan population) are fully vaccinated for  Covid-19.

This is equivalent to 10.8 per cent of Rwanda's population of 13 million.

"Two million vaccinations is a milestone but the journey continues" Minister Ngamije noted.

"The government of Rwanda is doing the best we can to acquire the needed vaccines and we are grateful to different stakeholders who continue to contribute to availing and distributing the vaccines to our people, we aim to reach 30 per cent of the population by the end of this year 2021"  he added.

Rwanda has currently received 3,658,310 doses of COVID-19 vaccines through a variety of platforms including COVAX facility, African Vaccine Acquisition Trush (AVAT), bilateral agreements and government direct purchases in partnership with the World Bank.

According to the Minister, Rwanda will continue mobilising vaccines with the aim of vaccinating as many people as possible.

The government's effort including vaccination activities have reduced the COVID-19 positivity rates from over 10 per cent in July and August 2021 to currently manageable rate of less than 3 per cent in September, according to the ministry of Health.

The ministry said that such a decrease had ultimately led to opening up a number of economic activities as the government continues surveillance and vigilance.

Early this week, the cabinet meeting resolved reopening of the long awaited bars with COVID-19 prevention measures. 

It has been more than 18 months since the bars have been closed to quell the spread of COVID-19.