The government of Uzbekistan has approved a COVID-19 vaccine developed by China's Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biofarmaceutical for use in the Central Asian nation, the Uzbek ministry of innovation said on Monday.

Uzbekistan has taken part in stage III trials of the vaccine known as ZF2001. 

Recently Uzbekistan said it will administer jabs on a voluntary basis.

"Vaccination in our country will be carried out on a voluntary basis. If a person refuses to be vaccinated, no measures will be taken against him (or her)," Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Behzod Musayev told deputies in a meeting, of which excerpts were broadcast on local television.

According to Uzbek officials, the first stage of the mass vaccination campaign will cover 4.1 million people, and deputies proposed to vaccinate elderly and disabled persons, employees of the healthcare and education systems, as well as members of law enforcement bodies first.

(With input from agencies)