The Governor of Sudan’s Blue Nile Region, Ahmed Al Omda, on Monday launched the Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 vaccine and also flagged off the second round of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccinations campaign in the region.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday from Damazin town, Hadeel Mohammed Ahmed, the director of health promotion in the Blue Nile, confirmed that the second phase of the vaccination campaign included vaccination with AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines at the Damazin Hospital and other localities in the region.

Mohammed said her department had mobilized the community through a media awareness campaign and encouraged them to take the vaccine. 

“We need everybody to get vaccinated and they should take the responsibility of encouraging others as well,” Mohammed said. “Those who are targeted include health workers and everybody aged 45 and above.” 

She said the Johnson and Johnson vaccine will be given only to those who are getting vaccinated for the first time and the AstraZeneca will only be given to those coming for their second shots. 

“Those who are coming for the second round should present their cards of the first dose of AstraZeneca before they are vaccinated,” she explained.

Ahmed Al Samani, the director of the department of expanded immunization in the Blue Nile region, said that the campaign was supposed to start at the end of August, but logistical challenges led to a delay.

He stated that the region received only 10,500 doses of both vaccines, which is 20 percent of the amount required according to the plan of the Federal Ministry of Health. 

“The allocated amount given was based on the initial plan of each state and its needs.” He said. “We are targeting people with underlying diseases, people who are aged above 60 and others. These categories will get the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.” 

Al Samani regretted that due to bad roads and other circumstances, the vaccination campaign may not reach far-off localities at the moment but says plans are underway to find means to reach them. 

“Will have to schedule a different plan for Kurmuk, Gaisan, and others, maybe we will have to go there in October,” Al Samani said. “It is difficult for us to reach there now.”