The United States Government, through the COVAX Facility, has boosted the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive in Sierra Leone, with a donation of 113,490 doses of the Pfizer vaccines. These doses augment the 438,000 COVID-19 vaccines already donated by COVAX and other donors.
At the Ministry of Health and Sanitation conference room in Freetown, on Monday 13th September 2021, the donation brings together health experts from the government, partners, and officials from the United States Embassy in Sierra Leone.
The contribution from the US government comes within a week of the country receiving consignments of 151,200 vials of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 equity scheme's dose-sharing mechanism.
The government and people of Sierra Leone, appreciate the solidarity exhibited by the US government, COVAX, and all other players as they work towards ending the pandemic. The country now has a total of 951,490 doses of COVID-19 vaccines from four WHO-approved and certified pharmaceutical companies in the world-Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson, and Pfizer.
The arrival of additional vaccines is a demonstration of the longstanding relationship between Sierra Leone, and other countries and their determination towards ending the COVID-19 pandemic. The available vaccines will significantly increase the national vaccine uptake.
The United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, David Reimer, says the US Government has contributed billions of dollars to fight COVID-19 in more than 120 countries, including the $4 billion United States dollars pledge to COVAX to accelerate equitable global access to vaccines.
The WHO Country Representative in Sierra Leone, Steven v. Shongwe, says the Pfizer vaccine is one of seven vaccines that are approved for use by the WHO in protecting people against COVID-19. He says two doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been found by health experts to be effective in providing adults with the required protection from COVID-19 illnesses or death.
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