The announcement was made on 19 August at the February 4th International Airport, in Luanda, during the delivery of the second shipment of vaccines from Portugal, comprising 134,000 doses of AstraZeneca, in addition to syringes, needles and other materials.

Angola's Health Minister, Sílvia Lutucuta, praised the solidarity with the Angolan people, which “cement the bonds of friendship and cooperation” between the two countries, classifying Portugal as “a strategic partner” in the fight against the pandemic.

“This donation is a great support. We had information that very soon we will receive other batches of vaccines, in larger quantities, and we will probably have half a million vaccines donated by Portugal”, she highlighted.

She added that the vaccines, which expire in October, will have "the best use": they will be distributed throughout the country to complete the vaccination schedule where it is necessary to administer second doses, but most will be in Luanda, and should start to be administered from 20 August, she explained.

“What we want to guarantee to our population is that these vaccines are safe and on time”, said the responsible for Health.

The ambassador of Portugal, Pedro Pessoa e Costa, said that next week more 185,000 vaccines should be sent to Angola, a donation that will be gradually increased until reaching 500,000 doses.

“This reveals the respect we have for Angola and Angolans and recognition for what is being done in the fight against Covid-19. We know that we will only all be saved when we are all vaccinated”, stressed the diplomat.

Pedro Pessoa e Costa added that the donation will be completed by the end of the year and could happen next month.

"We are working on this with the Angolan authorities and with the minister," he said.

The ambassador added that the authorities are also continuing to work on solutions to guarantee the attribution of the European digital certificate to vaccinated citizens in Angola.

The creation of digital certificates is also being discussed in Angola, indicated Sílvia Lutucuta.

"We believe that, in the short term, we will have resolved this issue", she stressed, noting that vaccinated people can also be infected if they are not properly cared for, so this does not mean the end of restrictions.

“While we do not have a considerable number of people vaccinated, above 70 percent, we will still maintain the measures in force in our country”, she warned, noting that Angola currently has only 6 percent of fully vaccinated people.

The aid is part of the second phase of the Action Plan in the health response to the covid-19 pandemic between Portugal and Portuguese-speaking African countries and East Timor, which provides for the availability of at least 5 percent of the vaccines against the disease acquired by Portugal.

Angola has recorded, since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 1,133 deaths associated with covid-19, 45,325 positive cases of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection, and 42,080 recovered from the disease. There are currently 2,112 actives, of which 8 are in critical condition, 25 are severe, 50 are moderate, 30 are mild and 1,999 are asymptomatic, 113 people are hospitalised, 227 are in institutional quarantine and 738 contacts are under epidemiological surveillance.