Coronavirus: Botswana reaches WHO vaccination target
Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi has announced that the country has vaccinated ten percent of its population against the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Celebrating the country’s 55 years of independence on Thursday, President Masisi said the achievement comes despite challenges in acquiring vaccines due to global shortages.
“Botswana is one of Africa’s top countries which have so far fulfilled the World Health Organization (WHO) target of vaccinating at least 10 percent of the eligible population.
“My government plans to vaccinate at least 64 percent of our population by December 2021,” said President Masisi.
He said the country is witnessing a drop in hospitalization of people with COVID-19 and a reduction in the number of deaths.
“We hope that this trend will hold for the rest of the year and beyond especially as we continue to receive significant doses of COVID-19 vaccines,” Masisi said, adding that there is clear evidence that the vaccines are working.
“The improvement in the COVID-19 situation that we are experiencing has made the reopening of the economy possible."
He however warned that the administration of the vaccinations is not the end of the pandemic.
“COVID-19 is still alive,” he said.
Masisi urged the nation to follow health protocols that have been laid down under various legislation to help boost people’s livelihoods, businesses and lead to full economic recovery in the aftermath of COVID-19.
-0- PANA DRW/AR 30Sept2021
