South Sudan has received one million doses of the Oxford-Astrazeneca Covid vaccine.
This is the first of several doses to be scheduled to arrive in the country over the coming months through the global partnership Covax.
While addressing members of the press at Juba International Airport on Thursday, Health Minister Elizabeth Achuei thanked partners for the great support.
” We are grateful to all partners for their support in facilitating the arrival of the vaccines in our country” said Achuei.
Meanwhile, South Sudan health ministry and the World Health Organization say health workers will be given priority for first doses.
The country now plans to eventually vaccinate 20 percent of its population.
“This delivery is the product of an unprecedented global partnership to ensure every country has access to Covid-19 vaccines. These vaccines are safe, they are effective, and they will be an important tool in the fight against this disease.” said Patience Musanhu, Gavi Senior Country Manager.
Dr Guracha Guyo, South Sudan’s World Health Organization Emergency Coordinator, has urged the citizens to get the jab.
https://www.bbc.com/news/56100076 Vaccination programs are underway across Africa, bolstered by the international Covax initiative to help poorer countries access supplies.
So far many countries have now received their first shipments, but regional health bodies are already concerns over supply shortages.
Up to now, nearly 7 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Africa,
Where after months of waiting on the side-lines for vaccines, many of the countries have opted to prioritize healthcare workers for the first doses.