Dakar, Feb 24 (TIWN) Senegal on Tuesday officially began the first phase of Covid-19 vaccination, taking a new step in the crusade against the pandemic.

Senegalese Minister of Health and Social Action Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine in front of the press at his ministry, which symbolised the starting point of Senegal's vaccination campaign.  Politicians, such as former Prime Minister Souleymane Ndene Ndiaye, Foreign Minister Aissata Tall Sall, Minister of National Education Mamadou Talla, and members of the health workers were also vaccinated on Tuesday morning, the Xinhua news reported.  The Senegalese Health Minister said after vaccination that Senegalese President Macky Sall had instructed him to respect two things, "fairness and transparency."  According to him, the 200,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine are already distributed in all 14 regions of the country.  Sarr invited his compatriots to continue the fight against Covid-19 with respecting barrier gestures, wearing protective masks, washing hands regularly and avoiding gatherings.  He also revealed that the President is negotiating with Russia for having Sputnik V vaccine.