Seychelles begins inoculation

VICTORIA, Seychelles－The Indian Ocean archipelago of the Seychelles began vaccinating its population against the coronavirus on Sunday.

The country's president, Wavel Ramkalawan, was the first to receive the jab, an event broadcast on live television at a hospital in the capital Victoria. Several dozen public figures joined him.

"It's exactly as if I was getting any vaccine," he said, encouraging all people on the island nation to get the injection.

The country is using the Chinese vaccine developed by the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm with its subsidiary the China National Biotec Group.

Health workers were among the first to be vaccinated on Monday, and then people aged over 65, followed by distribution to the rest of the population.

The Seychelles hopes to vaccinate 70 percent of its population of 98,000 within two to three months, at a rate of 1,000 per day.

Separately, Turkey will start COVID-19 vaccination for its citizens by Thursday or Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.

The Chinese vaccine will be used for Turkish citizens in order of priority, he told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

Agencies - Xinhua