SW News: On Thursday, Pope Francis and Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI received their first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The news was confirmed by Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office. "I can confirm that as part of the vaccination program of the Vatican City State, as of today (14th January), the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine has been administered to Pope Francis and to the Pope Emeritus."

The Vatican's Covid-19 vaccination campaign kicked off at the Paul VI Hall in Vatican City on Wednesday, January 13.

The vaccine will be first administered to health care workers, the elderly and people in the high-risk category. The Vatican City State citizens, employees, pensioners, and their family members who are the beneficiaries of the Vatican health care system, FAS (Fondo Assistenza Sanitaria), would also receive the vaccination.

The vaccination campaign is voluntary. However, the vaccine will not be administered to children under 18, as the vaccine trials in this age group is still going on.