The Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has now approved five COVID-19 vaccines for use in the country.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Kennedy Malama, said this followed by stringent review processes undertaken and riding on the World Health Organization emergency use listing of the vaccines.
"Sinopharm (Vero Cells), Jansen (Johnson and Johnson), AstraZeneca Covishield, AZD 1222 5-Korean AstraZeneca and Pfizer Biotech," Dr Malama said.
He also pointed out that the COVID-19 vaccination programme remains paused until 23rd June, 2021 when those who received the first dose will start receiving the second one.
Meanwhile, Dr Malama has disclosed that COVID-19 cases have continued to rise with the country recording 558 new cases in the last 24 hours.
The cases have more than doubled from yesterday's 213. Speaking during the routine CVOID-19 update in Lusaka today, Dr Malama said the country has recorded one COVID-19 death at Levy Mwanawasa isolation centre in Lusaka.
He said the cumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths recorded from March last year when the pandemic broke out in Zambia to date is now 1,282.