After refusing the vaccine for four months, Madagascar finally agreed to receive vaccines under the Covax facility program, which provides free access to the vaccine for low-income countries. The resurgence prompted President Andry Rajoelina to abandon a hard-line stance on vaccines and agree to a rollout. Hanitrala did not specify the number of vaccines secured but said the supplies would be a combination of Oxford/AstraZeneca, Sinopharm and Johnson & Johnson. Only health ministry staff and some media houses are allowed to film inside Covid-19 wards. AFP cameras have been denied access out of "respect for patients' rights", while state television broadcasts daily interviews with hospital staff and patients praising the health ministry's response.
