Armenia's health authorities have purchased a fresh batch of Covid vaccines, Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan said in a Facebook post on Wednesday, August 18.

The 200,000 doses of the Chinese Sinopharm jabs will be used to inoculate 100,000 people, Avanesyan said, citing the right of the population to be protected from the coronavirus as a reason behind the government's decision to import more of the vaccines.

Armenia is currently using AstraZeneca, Sputnik-V and CoronaVac vaccines to inoculate people aged above 18. The vaccination program rolled out across the country in mid-April, with health authorities also setting up mobile vaccination facilities near shopping malls and on major streets in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

Foreigners currently residing in Armenia and tourists too can receive the jabs free of charge. Travelers, however, will need to spend 10 days in the country to become eligible for the shots.