TUNIS — More than half a million Tunisians received vaccinations on Sunday as part of a national campaign to control the outbreak of COVID-19 after the country received more than 6 million vaccine doses from Western and Arab countries.

In an effort to speed up the vaccination schedule, Tunisia opened vaccinations for those over the age of 40, with thousands flocking to inoculation centers. The Health Ministry said 551,00 people received a vaccination on Sunday.

This initiative was organized by the health ministry in coordination with the defense, interior and education ministries and in cooperation with several departments and components of the civil society.

Tunisia seeks to vaccinate 50% of its 11.6 million people by mid-October. The country has reported more than 20,000 deaths and more than 610,000 coronavirus infections since the pandemic began.

The handling of the pandemic caused a wave of protests against the government of Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, who was dismissed by President Kais Saied two weeks ago among a series of emergency measures. — Agencies