Health authorities in South Sudan's Lakes State say they have exhausted the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines dosage allotment from the national health ministry. 

Lakes State received 4,700 doses of the vaccines in early June and distributed them across health centres in Rumbek, Cueibet, and Yirol county hospitals. 

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, the manager of the Infectious Disease Unit and Covid-19 vaccinations manager in Lakes State Ezekiel Muorwel Maker, said that the inoculations exercise was successful and all the doses were completed on Thursday last week.  

"We have used the 4,700 AstraZeneca vaccines which we have in all the health facilities. During distribution, Rumbek was given 2,500 AstraZeneca doses, Cueibet 1,200 doses, and Yirol 1,000 doses and we have completed them," he said.

He noted that the turnout for vaccinations was low in the beginning but eventually picked up after an awareness program. 

"The turning up for vaccinations against coronavirus is high because the demand has increased for people who want to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and the quantity provided was not equivalent with the population in Lakes State," Muorwel said.

He said the ministry first targeted the frontline workers but later revised the strategy and encouraged everyone above 18 years to get inoculated except pregnant and lactating mothers.

Dr. Muorwel further dismissed rumors within the state over the safety of the vaccines and said the vaccines are safe for use and have been approved by the World Health Organisation. 

"The next vaccines to arrive in Rumbek will be for the second phase especially those who received their first dose and it will be in August. It will take two months, which is eight weeks starting from 14 of June to August. This is where you are supposed to receive your second dose," he added. 

The director-general of Lakes State health ministry Dr. Hakim Makuer confirmed that there are no expired and/or unused vaccines in the state.