The first batch comprised of 188,000 vaccine doses arrived in Rwanda on Wednesday 18th August 2021 while the second is expected to be delivered on Friday.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije has welcomed the donation which comes in handy to complement national efforts to mitigate effects of COVID-19.

“We are grateful to the US Government for these vaccines. As Rwanda rolls out vaccinations across the country to save lives and mitigate the harmful impact of the pandemic, these doses are much needed and will be put to good use immediately,” he said.

Rwanda is the first country to receive vaccines from US government which coordinated closely with COVAX and the African Union on country allocations.

“The United States is pleased to provide these COVID-19 vaccine doses and to lead the world in bringing an end to this global pandemic. Your health is our health and our health is your health,” said Peter H. Vrooman, US Ambassador to Rwanda.

In addition to frontline personnel including community health workers, Rwanda has started vaccinating Rwandans and residents aged 40 and above as well as priority risk groups including pregnant women, those with underlying health conditions and the elderly to whom vaccines are administered in their homes by mobile teams. So far, more than 950,000 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.

Officials from Rwanda and delegates from US Embassy in Rwanda in a group photo as they received the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine doses at Kigali International Airport.