AVAT Delivers 12000 Doses of J&J COVID-19 Vaccine to the African Union

The African Union (AU), through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has worked with the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to secure 12,000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson single-shot COVID-19 vaccine for the African Union Commission (AUC) staff, AU Embassies’ staff and their dependents.

The vaccines were handed over to the African Union’s Medical Health Services Directorate (MHSD) today. They arrived on the 1st of September.

The vaccines, partly manufactured in South Africa, were imported with the support of the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Being able to offer vaccines to all AUC and AU Embassy staff and their dependents is also an important step in securing the AU’s business continuity.

The AU MHSD is responsible for administering the vaccines to the AUC and African Union Embassy staff and dependents. Vaccination for AU staff members started immediately after the handover, following prior communication on the procedures and logistics by MHSD.

African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa noted that, to date, only 25.5% of the AU Commission and the community of the AU member states based in Addis Ababa are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

“This figure is far below where we need to be, in order to be near normalcy and return to work.  It is therefore pertinent that all staff and supervisors should encourage colleagues to get vaccinated as this is the only way for us to return to our previous working environment”, she said.

Africa CDC Director Dr John Nkengasong welcomed the arrival of the vaccines, “Only high vaccination levels will allow us to return to work and near normalcy. We are glad to be able to offer the single-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine, with its track record of safety and efficacy, to the Commission and Embassy staff and their dependents.”

 
AU Special Envoy and AVAT coordinator Mr Strive Masiyiwa said, “We are pleased that we have been able to secure these vaccines which were paid for through donors through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust.” Mr Masiyiwa also confirmed that Ethiopia had placed a large order of the Johnson and Johnson vaccines for its citizens through the AVAT, the first monthly shipment arriving during the same time.