Mali to start Covid-19 vaccine rollout in April

Mali has announced it plans to buy more than 8.4 million doses of coronavirus vaccine and expects to start a vaccination campaign in April.

The West African nation – which has a population of about 18.5 million – has so far recorded 7,911 Covid-19 cases, including 320 deaths.

The government said the vaccines would cost more than $58m (£42m), which would be covered with financial assistance from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi) and the World Bank.