The Nicaraguan Minister of Health, Martha Reyes, was in charge of receiving 200 thousand doses of Covishield vaccine from India. | Photo: @BisturiDePaz

Managua, March 8 (RHC)-- Nicaragua received this Sunday a donation of 200,000 doses of Covishield vaccines from India to reinforce the vaccination program against COVID-19 that the country began last week with the application of the Russian Sputnik V.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife and Vice President Rosario Murillo thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the donation, stressing that the vaccines will serve to protect Nicaraguan families.

The batch of 200,000 doses of Covishield vaccine was received at the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport in the capital Managua by Minister Martha Reyes and Dr. Carlos Saenz, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health (Minsa).

Minister Reyes thanked the Indian government on behalf of the Government and the Nicaraguan people for the donation.  "Our government of Reconciliation and National Unity and our people are grateful for the gift of the people and government of India," she said.

Nicaragua began voluntary vaccinations on March 2nd, with the Russian vaccine Sputnik V, prioritizing in the first phase people with kidney disease, heart disease and cancer.

"Later we will continue with people with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes" and health personnel, explained the Minister of Health, Martha Reyes.  With the vaccination plan, the authorities plan to immunize 55 percent of the population this year.