200, 000 RWANDANS GET COVID-19 JAB
…as Kagame becomes first leader in East Africa to get vaccine
KIGALI - Rwanda has vaccinated at least 228,
854 people countrywide against coronavirus almost a week since it launched the exercise.
And President Paul Kagame on Thursday became the first leader in East Africa to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, which has been rolled out in the region in recent days, his office announced.
Kagame, 63, and his wife Jeannette, were pictured receiving their jabs on the Rwandan presidency's official Twitter account, which said that 230, 000 people had received the vaccine.
High risk groups, including health workers, teachers, elderly people with underlying health conditions, those above 65 years old and other frontline workers, have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.
The list also includes prisoners, refugees living in Rwanda, taxi moto and cab drivers, airport staff, traders, security guards and community health workers.
Rwanda initially targeted 171, 480 people to be vaccinated in the first vaccine roll out.
On March 3-4, Rwanda received 340, 960 AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines under the Covax facility and an additional 50, 000 more doses donated by India.
Meanwhile, Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga has been placed under quarantine after returning positive tests for coronavirus on Thursday evening.
Odinga was admitted to hospital on Tuesday in the capital, Nairobi, after developing fatigue, according to his family.
"He's responding well to the treatment he is receiving... and remains upbeat. We are continuing to monitor his progress," his doctor said in a statement.
Odinga later said in a statement that he "feels strong and is in good shape" but had agreed with doctors to undertake mandatory quarantine.
Kenya is experiencing a third wave of Covid-19 infections, according to the health minister.
Odinga, 76, is among politicians who have been holding countrywide political rallies over the last couple of months with no precautionary safety measures taken. –