The Prime Minister, Dr Moeketsi Majoro received the first batch of 36 000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine by COVAX on March 03, 2021.
The first batch of the vaccine is expected to cover all 35 000 health care workers.
Giving his remarks, Dr Majaoro expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders who made this delivery of the vaccine a success, saying the vaccine is going to help the health care workers bodies fight COVID-19.
He noted that this is just a tiny amount of vaccine therefore appealed to Basotho to adhere to COVID 19 preventive measures.
The Prime Minister said they are expecting more vaccine to arrive through out the year, adding that before April, 430 000 doses of vaccine will arrive in the country.
Again, he noted that only children over 16 years of age will be vaccinated hence the government is targeting to vaccinate 1.6 Million Basotho.
He mentioned that plans with entrepreneurs are at a final stage as business community is willing to help the government to procure more vaccine.
The UNICEF Representative, Ms. Anurita Bain said after a year of disruptions due to COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 10 000 Basotho infected with virus, almost 300 lives lost and hundreds of thousands of Basotho families affected in countless ways, saying with the arrival of vaccine is the path to recovery.
She further noted that the deliveries mark the beginning of what will be largest, most complex roll out of vaccines in history, saying COVAX facility plans to deliver at least 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of this year.
Also speaking, the World health Organization (WHO) Representative, Dr Richard Banda said this is a momentous occasion, saying COVID-19 has taken a toll on countries around the world and Lesotho is no exception.
He said this is the first step hence congratulate the government, especially the Ministry of Health for its tireless efforts to protect Basotho.
Lesotho will received 36 000 vaccines as part initial tranche of deliveries of the AstraZeneca/ Oxford vaccine licensed to the Serum Institute of India, which represents part of the first wave of COVID-19 vaccines headed to several low middle and middle-income countries.
To date 61 727 tests have been conducted, 10 521 positive cases recorded, 3 888 recoveries and 305 deaths confirmed.