Iraq on Sunday received the second batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government to help the country combat the pandemic.

A handover ceremony held at the Baghdad International Airport was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Zhang Tao, Iraqi Health Minister Hassan al-Tamimi, and several other senior Iraqi health officials.

Earlier, the Iraqi National Board for Selection of Drugs approved the emergency use of China's Sinopharm and Britain's AstraZeneca vaccines.

The donated Chinese vaccines are expected to advance the national immunization plan in Iraq, as the country has recorded unprecedented daily COVID-19 infections in recent days.

On March 2, Iraq received the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government.