BUENOS AIRES - Argentina's government aims to vaccinate 30 million people, or more than two-thirds of the population, against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease in 2021, Defense Minister Agustin Rossi said Monday.

Speaking to a local radio station in Buenos Aires, Rossi said that in the first three months of 2021, the immunization drive will focus on those most at risk, such as the elderly, especially since the average age of deaths from COVID-19 in the country is "74 years old".

The campaign will then spread to other segments of the population, which numbers some 45 million people.

"Throughout the year (2021), we hope to vaccinate 30 million Argentines," said Rossi.

Argentina registered its first case of COVID-19 on March 3 and reported 1,498,160 infections and 40,766 deaths as of Sunday.