MOGADISHU (SD) – Somalia has received second batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by Chinese government; Health minister confirmed.

In statement, Somali health minister, Fawziya Abikar Nur said the country 500,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines.

The doses will enhance the efforts to the fight the pandemic in the country.

Somalia, which rolled out its mass vaccinations on March 16, received 200,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines donated by China on April 11 to boost the war against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nur thanked the Chinese government for the vaccine donation, saying the arrival of Sinopharm doses was timely because of the new Omicron variant which she said is spreading very fast.

“We are thanking the people and Government of China for donating us the second support of 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to fight against the pandemic. We received 200,000 doses of vaccines from China in April,” Nur said.

Chinese Ambassador to Somalia Fei Shengchao has expressed China’s commitment to support Somalia in the fight against COVID-19.

“It speaks to China’s commitment to putting people and their lives first, and closing the immunization gap in Somalia,” Fei said.

He said that China and Somalia will work together to enhance their everlasting spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation.

“China will work with Somalia to fight the pandemic, deepen medical and health cooperation, protect the life, value and dignity of every individual, and make a fresh headway in building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era,” said Fei.