August 10, 2021
MOHAMED M. SESAY
With Support from France through the COVAX facility in order to ensure equitable access to covid-19 vaccines in lower and middle income countries, the Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Austin Demby has on Sunday the 8th of August, received ninety-six thousand (96,000) doses of Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccines from UNICEF.
Receiving the vaccines at the Lungi International Airport, Dr. Austin Demby confessed that the 96,000 doses of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccines from the COVAX facility mark another effort towards achieving a covid-19 free Sierra Leone. He furthered that the country has been using the Astra-Zeneca and the Sino-pharm Vaccines in the national covid-19 vaccination rollout adding that, both vaccines have been widely accepted across the country and the available data has assured the safety and efficacy of both vaccines.
“As you may recall, in March of this Year, we received 96,000 doses of Oxford/Astra-Zeneca vaccines from COVAX facility and 42,000 additional doses of the same vaccine from the African Union. In that same year, we received 240,000 doses of the Sino-pharm vaccine donated by the People’s Republic of China”, he reminded.
With the active participation of the people of Sierra Leone in the vaccination rollout, Dr. Austin Demby also disclosed that the country has used up all the previous consignment of the 96,000 of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccines. He added that the country has been without any of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccines for the last three weeks and therefore, noted that with the replenishment of the Astra-Zeneca vaccines calls for a boisterous celebration.
Minister Demby Continued that it was initially difficult to start the covid-19 vaccinations in Sierra Leone due to numerous misinformation and misconception associated with the vaccines. He however said that with the leadership of President Bio, and with the cooperation of the people of Sierra Leone, government has succeeded in starting massive vaccinations in March. Five months into the vaccines rollout, Dr. Demby intimated that covid-19 vaccination is now happening in every district across the country and that over 150,000 Sierra Leoneans have received at least one dose of the vaccine so far.
He described such as a tremendous achievement towards the fight against the pandemic.
Minister Demby also noted that government is targeting five million Sierra Leoneans to be vaccinated so that the country will attain the level of population immunity required to halt the transmission in Sierra Leone.
Cognizant of his ministry’s responsibility to ensure that the vaccines are rolled out quickly across the country, Dr. Austin Demby assured that in the coming weeks, his ministry will ensure that vaccines are available in all the vaccination sites across the country. He concluded by encouraging those who need their first dose and those that are due for their second dose of the vaccines to get them at the various vaccination centers.
In her handing over statement, the UNICEF Deputy Representative Ms Live Elin Indreiten informed that the 96,000 doses of the Astra-Zeneca vaccines were actually donated by the Government of France through the dose-sharing mechanism under the COVAX facility. She added that the France donation to COVAX is also part of the team Europe’s broader effort to ensure equitable access to vaccines in lower and middle income countries.
As a key COVAX partner, Ms Indreiten furthered that UNICEF is leading the procurement and supply of the vaccines and immunization supplies such as syringes and cold chain to over ninety-two low, lower and middle income countries. She noted that it was against that backdrop that UNICEF shipped and delivered the 96,000 doses of vaccines to Sierra Leone on behalf of COVAX.
She continued that UNICEF wholeheartedly welcomes the arrival of the much awaited consignment of Astra-Zeneca vaccines especially at a time when the first consignment of 96,000 doses received on the 8th of March2021, has been fully utilized.
She reiterated that the just arrived consignment is great news especially for those who have already received their first dose and now due for the second dose of the same vaccine.
Ms Indreiten advised that covid-19 vaccines, together with other safety protocols such as proper wearing of facemasks, ensuring a safe physical distancing, avoiding large groups, and washing hands frequently will help to stop the covid-19 pandemic, and also help see a gradual return to normal lives.
She concluded by reaffirming UNICEF’s commitment to support the Ministry of Health and Sanitation with the timely delivery of subsequent covid-19 vaccines and its related devices into the country. She assured that UNICEF will also work with the Ministry of Health to prepare Sierra Leone to receive the new types of vaccines which are in the pipeline including the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.