BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe is expected to receive a donation of COVID-19 vaccine doses from China by Monday, as the shipment has been delivered at an airport in Beijing.
China has listed Zimbabwe among the first African countries that will get free doses of the Chinese vaccine.
A Zimbabwean official said that the country will also take delivery of the first batch of the vaccines it had purchased from China early next month.
Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said that Zimbabwe had also purchased an unspecified amount of Russia's Sputnik vaccine, while India, like China, has also offered a donation and an option to purchase commercially.
Zimbabwe has also submitted interest to participate in the African Union COVID-19 vaccines program, the minister added.
Zimbabwe is scheduled to roll out its COVID-19 vaccination program next week after it receives the first batch of vaccines from China, Deputy Health Minister John Mangwiro said Friday.
The vaccination comes in phases, starting with frontline workers at high risk of infection, followed by those with chronic diseases, the elderly and the prison population under phase one, said the official in a statement.
After the second phase involving lecturers, school staff members, and others at medium risk, Mangwiro added, those at relatively low risk will be inoculated under phase three.
The country intends to vaccinate all of its eligible population on a voluntary basis free of charge, the deputy minister said.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service
