Burundi has kicked off its COVID-19 vaccination drive while authorities in Slovakia reimpose some pandemic restrictions amid a surge in infections.
Burundi became one of the last countries in the world to roll out COVID-19 vaccines on Monday, months after most African countries.
The vaccination campaign started in the commercial capital of Bujumbura without fanfare.
Dozens of city residents queued quietly at a vaccination site, saying they heard about the drive through word of mouth.
No government officials were present to officially inaugurate the launch.
"I rushed to take the vaccine because I have a trip very soon and, of course, I also want to protect myself," said 30-year-old Blaise, who asked to only use his first name.
"People's fears are groundless. I am reassured by the fact that I was with a doctor when I got it."
The jabs administered on Monday were part of a Chinese donation of 500,000 Sinopharm doses.
Burundi, a country of about 11.5 million, has reported 14 COVID-19 deaths and more than 19,300 positive cases.
The country has only sporadically provided data on the spread of the virus over the past 18 months.
The start of the campaign leaves only Eritrea and North Korea as the remaining countries that have not administered any COVID-19 vaccines, according to the World Health Organisation.
Meanwhile, Slovakia on Monday reimposed coronavirus restrictions in the hardest-hit parts of the country amid a rise in infections.
Five counties all located in northern Slovakia are affected by the measures, which include the closures of restaurants with people only allowed to buy meals at take-out windows.
Fitness and wellness centres also have been closed.
The number of people allowed to attend public gatherings is reduced to 100 fully vaccinated people.
It is also mandatory to wear face coverings both outdoors and indoors.
The number of infected in those counties is higher than 400 per 100,000 people in the last seven days.
Slovakia is facing a new wave of infections, with daily numbers in the country reaching 2406 - the highest number since the middle of March.
Slovakia, which has a population of nearly 5.5 million people, is one of the hardest-hit European Union countries.
It has registered about 438,000 cases and 12,856 deaths.
Slovakia has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the EU.
Less than 2.3 million people have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
About 82 per cent of almost 1000 people who currently need hospitalisation in Slovakia have been only partially vaccinated or haven't received a shot at all.
with AP
Australian Associated Press
