African countries to receive first COVID-19 vaccines donated by the United States in days

Nearly 50 African countries will receive 25 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine donated by the United States, with the first shipments to Burkina Faso, Djibouti and Ethiopia in the next few days, U.S. officials and officials said on Friday. alliance for Gavi vaccines.

“In partnership with the African Union and COVAX, the United States is proud to donate 25 million COVID-19 vaccines to 49 African countries. The Biden administration is committed to leading the global response to the pandemic by providing safe and effective vaccines to the world, ”said Gayle Smith, US Department of State Coordinator for COVID-19 Recovery and Global Health , in the press release.

In April, US President Joe Biden pledged to share 80 million US-made vaccines with countries around the world to protect the most vulnerable and stem transmission of the coronavirus.

Nearly one million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be delivered to Burkina Faso, Djibouti and Ethiopia in the coming days, the statement said.

The rest will be shipped in the coming weeks, he added.

Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which leads large-scale procurement and delivery for COVAX, said: “We are delighted to be working closely with the African Union and the US government to ensure equitable access and rapid delivery of around 25 million doses on the continent. As the continent faces an increase in the number of cases, we need collective action as we work towards our common goal of protecting the people of Africa and reversing the global trend against the pandemic.

43% increase in deaths from Covid-19
Africa saw a 43% increase in deaths from COVID-19 last week as infections and hospital admissions rise and countries face shortages of oxygen and care beds intensive, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

African Union Special Envoy Strive Masiyiwa said the US donation to 49 countries was appreciated “especially as we are witnessing the third wave in a number of African countries”.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is Ethiopian, has called for immunizing at least 10% of the most vulnerable people in each country – including health workers and the elderly – by September.

The COVAX dose-sharing program has so far shipped 121 million doses to 136 low- and middle-income countries, well below original targets, due to supply constraints since India suspended exports vaccines. It is managed by the Gavi vaccine alliance and the WHO.