Tunisia Health Ministry Says 3 Million People Fully Vaccinated

A Tunisian nurse prepares a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at an inoculation center in Ariana governorate near the capital Tunis on August 8, 2021. (Fethi Belaid, AFP)
A Tunisian nurse prepares a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at an inoculation center in Ariana governorate near the capital Tunis on August 8, 2021. (Fethi Belaid, AFP)
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Tunisia Health Ministry Says 3 Million People Fully Vaccinated

A Tunisian nurse prepares a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at an inoculation center in Ariana governorate near the capital Tunis on August 8, 2021. (Fethi Belaid, AFP)
A Tunisian nurse prepares a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at an inoculation center in Ariana governorate near the capital Tunis on August 8, 2021. (Fethi Belaid, AFP)

The Tunisian Health Ministry confirmed that it succeeded to fully vaccinate around 3 million people since it kicked off a national inoculation campaign on March 13, 2021.

The number represents half of the 6 million Tunisian residents that the Ministry planned to vaccinate by next October to guarantee herd immunity.

“The number of fully vaccinated people stands at 2,980,682, including 2,277,394 people who received two doses, 320,733 people who got one shot of the single dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine and 382,555 people who were infected and therefore needed only one jab,” the Health Ministry said last Sunday.

It said a total of 6,789,808 jabs have been administered so far, including 4,512,414 first shots and 2,277,394 boosters.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry called on all residents who did not yet receive the vaccine to visit the nearest inoculation center and take their dose.

This came after 66,756 people missed their vaccine appointment last Sunday.

The Ministry revealed that only 32,820 people received their shots out of 99,576 resident that received text messages to attend their jab appointments on September 12.

Around 6 million people are registered on Evax.tn platform up to September 11 to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

In the same context, a member of the scientific committee to confront the coronavirus in Tunisia, Al-Hashemi Al-Wazir, said that the committee plans to administer a third dose of the vaccine for the most vulnerable.

Meanwhile, the African nation registered 12 COVID-19 fatalities on September 11, taking the death count to 24,244, the Ministry said.

Also, 780 infections were reported from 7,190 tests (10.85 percent positivity rate), pushing the caseload to 685,799 while recoveries rose by 4,824, reaching 666,431.



4 UN Peacekeepers Wounded in Southern Lebanon

 An UN soldier stands on the top of a tower at a base of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) at the Israeli-Lebanese border as seen from northern Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP)
An UN soldier stands on the top of a tower at a base of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) at the Israeli-Lebanese border as seen from northern Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP)
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4 UN Peacekeepers Wounded in Southern Lebanon

 An UN soldier stands on the top of a tower at a base of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) at the Israeli-Lebanese border as seen from northern Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP)
An UN soldier stands on the top of a tower at a base of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) at the Israeli-Lebanese border as seen from northern Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP)

Four United Nations peacekeepers were wounded in southern Lebanon on Tuesday when a rocket struck a base, while another peacekeeping base was damaged by rocket fire and a patrol was shot at.

In a statement, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said “a rocket, likely fired by non-state actors within Lebanon,” struck the base of the Ghana's mission in the east of Ramyah village, injuring four peacekeepers, three of whom required hospitalization.

In the southern village of Chamaa, where heavy fighting between Hezbollah and the Israeli army has been taking place, five rockets damaged UNIFIL’s Sector West Headquarters. The UN force said this was the second attack on the base in a week, adding that no injuries were reported.

In another attack, an armed person “directly fired” at a UNIFIL patrol near Khirbat Silim, but there were no injuries, the statement said.

UNIFIL added that it launched investigations into each of the violent episodes and informed the Lebanese army about them.

“UNIFIL once again reminds all actors involved in the ongoing hostilities to respect the inviolability of United Nations peacekeepers and premises,” the statement said.

Italy said eight rockets struck the headquarters of its UN peacekeeping contingent in southern Lebanon. No one was injured.

According to the Italian defense ministry, the eight 107-millimenter rockets hit outdoor areas and a warehouse at the base in Chamaa, where no soldiers were present. Five soldiers were being kept under observation, the statement said.

Italy said it was investigating from where the rockets originated, and who was responsible.

It was the second time in a week that Italy has complained about rockets or shells hitting its peacekeepers' base.

Last week, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani spoke with his Israeli counterpart to demand an investigation after an artillery shell hit the gym on the base. No one was injured in that episode and the shell did not detonate.

Also on Tuesday, the Israeli military said another UN peacekeeper's position was hit by a Hezbollah rocket, causing damage and “several injuries.”

The army said it had received a report from UNIFIL that a post in the area of Ramyeh in southern Lebanon was hit.

The military said it conducted a review and determined the location was hit by a Hezbollah rocket fired in a barrage aimed at Israel. There was no immediate comment from UNIFIL on the episode.