Geneva: Nearly 50 African countries must receive 25 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine contributed by the United States, with the first delivery to Burkina Faso, Djibouti and Ethiopia in the coming days, US officials and the Gavi vaccine alliance said on Friday.
US President Joe Biden has promised to share an 80 million US-made vaccines with countries around the world to protect the most vulnerable transmission and stem correnavirus.
“In partnership with the African Union and Covax, the United States is proud to contribute 25 million Covid-19 vaccines to 49 African countries.
The Biden government is committed to leading a global response to the pandemic by providing a safe and effective vaccine for the world.” Gayle Smith, Coordinator The US State Department for recovery of Covid-19 and global health, said in the statement.
Nearly a million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be sent to Burkina Faso, Djibouti and Ethiopia in the coming days, said statement.
The rest will be sent in the coming weeks, he added.
Africa recorded a leap of 43% at Covid-19 death last week because hospital infections and receipts had increased and the countries faced lack of oxygen and intensive care, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.
The Masiyiwa African Union special envoy said US donations to 49 countries were valued “especially at this time when we witnessed the third wave of the number of African countries”.
WHO Director General of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is Ethiopia, has called for at least 10% of the most vulnerable in each country, including health workers and parents, in September.
The Covax dose sharing program has so far sent 121 million doses to 136, mostly low and middle income countries, far from the original target, because supply constraints since India suspended the exports of vaccines.
Run by the Gavi and WHO vaccine alliances.