Ulan Bator, Feb 16 (IANS) Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene on Tuesday said he will become the first person in the country to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
“Our country will begin to bring vaccines approved by the World Health Organization for emergency use starting today under careful inspections by professional organisations,” Oyun-Erdene said at a meeting with officials to check the preparations underway for the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in Mongolia, Xinhua news agency reported.
“As the country’s Prime Minister, I will become the first person vaccinated in the country against the Covid-19 to encourage citizens to accept inoculation.”
Mongolia is expected to launch a nationwide Covid-19 vaccination campaign next week, according to the health ministry.
The Asian country is planning to vaccinate at least 60 per cent of its 3.3 million population against Covid-19, and 20 per cent of them will be vaccinated under COVAX, a global initiative to ensure quick and equal access to vaccines against the virus, the ministry said.
As of Tuesday, the country has registered a total of 2,416 Covid-19 cases, with four deaths.
More than half of the confirmed cases were detected in the capital city Ulan Bator, which is home to over half of the country’s total population.
–IANS
int/pgh