Mozambique on Monday launched the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 in Maputo Central Hospital, with the country's Health Minister Armindo Tiago being the first to take the Sinopharm vaccine provided by China, giving the process a start with priority for health professionals.

"I feel good. Not bad," said the minister shortly after he received the first shot with the presence of many local officials and health professionals, noting that "the vaccine is safe, I encourage other health professionals to take the doses."

Tiago said as a professional doctor himself, he had full confidence in the quality, efficiency and safety of the Chinese vaccines.

The vaccine taken by the Minister of Health is part of the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines that the country has ever received on February 24.

The minister told the Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique Wang Hejun that the gesture is better than words, thanking him for his involvement in combating and preventing the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.