MBABANE – Finally, the Kingdom of Eswatini has today received 302 400 COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX facility.
The good news was announced by the US Embassy and the ministry of health today. The American Embassy has stated that the vaccine is enough to fully vaccinate 45 per cent of all adults in the country.
Below is the US Tweet:
The U.S. is pleased to announce the arrival of 302,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, through COVAX—enough to fully vaccinate 45 per cent of all adults in Eswatini. We are also announcing E28.7 million (U.S. $2.125 million) to help with vaccine rollout. Together we will defeat COVID-19.
Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi says Government plans to utilize the 302 400 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine received from the U.S. within the next four weeks.
“We will be utilizing multiple, parallel highways in delivery of the vaccines.”
She said, “This will ensure that in the next four weeks we have all doses in arms. With these vaccines, essential workers will now confidently be able to continue with their work.”
The minister stated that as the country struggles for access to purchase COVID-19 vaccines, the value of this donation is indescribable to the Kingdom of Eswatini and in Africa as government seeks to increase the proportion of the population that is protected.
“These vaccines will help us to protect people; those who get sick will be protected from severe illness. Most importantly these vaccines will enable us to cover nearly 30 per cent of our population. A significant increase from the current coverage of nearly 4 per cent.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador Jeanne Maloney said: “We know that the Ministry of Health has been poised to purchase and receive vaccinations for weeks and that the global availability of vaccines has been extremely limited. We will continue to work hand-in-hand with the Ministry,” she said.
