COVID-19 vaccination in Burundi

See also: COVID-19 pandemic in Burundi

COVID-19 vaccination in Burundi
DateOctober 18, 2021 (2021-10-18)
CauseCOVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 vaccination in Burundi is an ongoing immunisation campaign against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in response to the ongoing pandemic in the country. Burundi was one of the last nation states in the world to commence vaccination against COVID-19.[1] This was mostly due to the government's refusal to vaccinate the population throughout most of 2021. In February 2021, Thaddee Ndikumana, the health minister of Burundi, said his country was more concerned with prevention measures. "Since more than 95% of patients are recovering, we estimate that the vaccines are not yet necessary," local media reported.[2]

In October 2021, however, the Burundian government announced that it had received delivery of 500,000 doses of the Chinese Sinopharm BIBP vaccine, and announced that it would begin inoculation.[3] Targeted vaccinations subsequently started on 18 October 2021.

  1. ^ "Burundi says it doesn't need COVID-19 vaccines, at least yet". ABC News. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Tanzania, Burundi not to get COVID-19 vaccine doses". www.aa.com.tr. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  3. ^ "In about-face, Burundi receives first Covid vaccines". France 24. 14 October 2021. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.