Burundi, one of the last three countries in the world to start inoculating its population against Covid-19, said it expected to receive vaccines in a matter of weeks.

“We have with the African Union, the World Bank and Unicef the promise that the first vaccines could arrive here between October 25 and the first fortnight of November, if all goes well,” Health Minister Thaddee Ndikumana told reporters in Burundi's economic capital Bujumbura.

Only three countries have not yet started vaccinating at all against the coronavirus — Burundi, Eritrea and North Korea, AFP reports.

The minister said the vaccination programme was part of a new six-month Covid-19 response plan developed with partners including the World Health Organisation.