Senegal president takes coronavirus shot on live TV

Senegalese President Macky Sall on Thursday took his coronavirus shot live on television.

"Just vaccinated for #Covid19. Hope is allowed for all. I appeal to the entire population to do the same.

"Together, we have been fighting an enemy who threatens our health and lives. Today that we have the weapon to reduce the spread of our enemy or even eliminate it, we must not miss the opportunity," his post read in part.

The West African nation took delivery of its first vaccine consignment earlier this week with Health Minister Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr taking the first shot.

Sall becomes the latest African leader to publicly take their shot. South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and Equatorial Guinea president Obiang Nguema have all taken their shots in public.

In Zimbabwe, VP Chiwenga was the first to receive a shot. Ghana's president Akufo-Addo is also expected to take the first shot publicly when inoculation begins next week.

So far, records indicated that over 4,000 people in Senegal have been inoculated as part of a drive to protect frontline health workers, the aged and people with pre-existing conditions.

Senegal bought 200,000 doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine. A further six million doses of the vaccine is expected from other sources including under the COVAX platform.

Last week, Mr Sall said the government bought the vaccine, and did not wait to receive doses from the World Health Organization's Covax scheme, which aims to make it easier for developing nations to purchase them.