The government of China has donated 200.000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to Sierra Leone.

The donation was received on Thursday and aims to support Sierra Leone’s vaccination campaign.

Health authorities in Sierra Leone said the vaccine will "play an important role in preventing and containing the COVID-19 in the country."

According to the authorities, the vaccine comes at a time when the Sierra Leone government is planning to vaccinate about 1.6 million vulnerable people.

Herald Thomasi is the spokesperson for Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health.