Madagascar on Monday rolled out its COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Health Minister Jean Louis Hanitrala Rakotovao was among the first to be inoculated in the capital, Antananarivo.
The Indian Ocean island nation received its first shipment of 250,000 AstraZeneca jabs on Saturday.
They followed a surge in infections which saw some schools and community centres transformed into treatment facilities.
"I'll be back for the second dose, I'm already for it. I encourage people to get vaccinated because it is good to fight against the coronavirus. Many people are infected and have died from this disease," said Hanitra Lovasoa Rasoarimalala, a civil servant after being vaccinated.
President Andry Rajoelina has been criticized for his handling of the pandemic.