(210930) -- SARAJEVO, Sept. 30, 2021 (Xinhua) -- A migrant woman receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Sept. 29, 2021. Immunization of migrants began on Wednesday in Sarajevo, with a group of 58 migrants receiving a first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo by Nedim Grabovica/Xinhua)
SARAJEVO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Immunization of migrants began on Wednesday in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with a group of 58 migrants receiving a first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
"I am very grateful that the relevant Bosnian health care institutions have recognized the importance of adding migrants to the list of vulnerable groups and enabled this immunization process," said Azra Ibrahimovic-Srebrenica, manager of the Temporary Reception Center for migrants in Usivak.
Ibrahimovic-Srebrenica told Xinhua that immunization is voluntary, but all of the approximately 450 migrants currently living in the camp will have the option of getting a jab.
The vaccines have been provided by the Institute for Public Health of the Federation of BiH, while the medical staff has been provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Danish Refugee Council.
Prior to the vaccination drive, workshops on the importance of immunization were organized. A designated medical team will closely monitor the health of all immunized migrants, said the Danish Refugee Council on Wednesday.
Last month, 157 migrants were immunized in several reception camps in Una-Sana Canton, in the northwestern part of BiH where the majority of migrants reside.
The percentage of fully immunized citizens in BiH has remained low. In the country with an estimated population of 3.5 million, only 1.2 million vaccines have been administered so far, according to the public health authorities of the Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH.
To date, the BiH has reported 233,775 cases of COVID-19 and 10,574 deaths from the disease, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH. Enditem
(210930) -- SARAJEVO, Sept. 30, 2021 (Xinhua) -- A migrant man gets ready to receive a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Sept. 29, 2021. Immunization of migrants began on Wednesday in Sarajevo, with a group of 58 migrants receiving a first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo by Nedim Grabovica/Xinhua)
