First shipment of India made COVID 19 vaccine arrives in Kabul

Afghanistan received the first consignment of COVID 19 vaccines from India under India’s commitments to support the country in health sector.

According to Press TV, as officials say ,the first shipment of the vaccine would be sufficient for only 3 percent of Afghan population. This comes as Afghanistan is still struggling with the he COVID 19 amid shortage of medical equipment.

Afghanistan has already received different shipments in aid from china, Iran and the US to fight the pandemic in 2020. As officials in Kabul say, those at greater risk will be the first recipients of these vaccines but many here doubt such claims saying the widespread mismanagement of the first wave of COVID 19 in Afghanistan has tarnished the image of responsible bodies such as the ministry of public health and some other bodies.

The World Bank has allocated $100 million and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted $50 million to provide Afghanistan with the COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile Iran and China are among those countries that have so far assisted the Afghan government in its fight against the pandemic under different collaborative attempts.

Based on official figures released by Afghanistan’s public health ministry, over 50000 individuals have been infected with COVID 19 so far. Nearly 2500 of them have died of the disease.

ME