Algeria has launched its coronavirus vaccination campaign starting in the northern city of Blida, the epicentre of the country's Covid-19 outbreak in March 2020.

Algiers said it had received a first shipment of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine on Friday, having announced in late December it had ordered 500,000 doses from its long-time ally Moscow.

Health Minister Abderrahmane Benbouzid said the country was working to acquire sufficient vaccine doses to immunise all of Algeria's 44 million people, the official APS news agency reported.

The vaccination campaign will be carried out in “phases” across all regions, “without exception”, he said, cited by APS.

Journalists huddle around a medical worker administering a dose of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine for Covid-19 upon a man at a clinic in the city of Blida, Algeria. — AFP
Journalists huddle around a medical worker administering a dose of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine for Covid-19 upon a man at a clinic in the city of Blida, Algeria. — AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Ceasefire extension
Updated 23 Apr, 2026

Ceasefire extension

THOUGH the US has extended the Iran ceasefire — thanks largely to effective Pakistani diplomacy to prevent sliding...
Climate & livelihoods
23 Apr, 2026

Climate & livelihoods

THE latest ILO report estimates that around 3.3m jobs may have been affected by the 2025 floods — significantly...
Virtual courts
23 Apr, 2026

Virtual courts

THOUGH routine activities in Islamabad have been greatly hindered amidst security preparations for another round of...
Moment of truth
Updated 22 Apr, 2026

Moment of truth

ISLAMABAD is all set to host the second round of US-Iran talks. But the million-dollar question is: will they go...
Rights at risk
22 Apr, 2026

Rights at risk

ACROSS the world, rights are shrinking. Amnesty International’s latest report notes a pattern that cuts across...
Extrajudicial killing
22 Apr, 2026

Extrajudicial killing

THE appeal by a Lady Health Worker from Muzaffargarh to the chief justice of Pakistan for an independent probe into...