Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday received her first jab of the Johnson& Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as she launched a nationwide COVID vaccination exercise, signaling a policy reverse of the country that in more than a year has been in denial about the pandemic.
Her inoculation was shown on state broadcaster Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation( TBC).
The United States on Saturday donated more than 1 million doses of the Johnson&Johnson vaccines to the East African country through the COVAX facility.
Tanzania which has so far confirmed 29 coronavirus related fatalities and 682 infections, spent a year in denial with former President John Pombe Magufuli doubting the intention of Asian and European countries donations of face masks, test kits, and vaccines to African countries.
The late President at one point told Tanzanians that a secret test conducted on a variety of animals and fruits using the donated test kits returned positive for a piece of goat meat and pawpaw.
However, following his demise in March, and his deputy Suluhu succeeded him, Tanzania joined COVAX and initiated several containment measures to curb the spread of the virus.
Among measures undertaken by the country include ban on public gatherings, compulsory wearing of face masks, social distancing, and hand sanitation in public spaces.
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