Madagascar begins Covid vaccination programme

The island nation of Madagascar has launched its Covid-19 vaccination programme after receiving Astra Zeneca vaccines last week.

The country recently registered for the global vaccination initiative Covax.

Health Minister Jean Louis Rakotovao was the first person to be vaccinated.

The first phase of the vaccination campaign will focus on health workers then the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions will follow.

The country had initially touted a herbal tonic - Covid Organics - as a cure for the virus despite the World Health Organization's warning against using untested remedies.

Madagascar recorded a spike in coronavirus cases in March and April prompting the authorities to postpone schools reopening as learning institutions had been converted to treatment centres.

The country has recorded 39,351 confirmed cases including 732 deaths, according to data from John Hopkins University.