Japan provides 300,000 additional doses of Covid-19 vaccines and batches of refrigerators to Senegal

DAKAR (Senegal), 31 March 2022 – Senegal received an additional batch of 300,000 doses of Astrazeneca vaccines donated by the Government of Japan through the Covax facility. The vaccine doses were officially received at the Expanded Vaccination Program (EPI) depot in Dakar, in the presence of Mr. Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, Minister of Health and Social Action and HE Mr. Izawa Osamu, Ambassador of Japan, and COVAX partners, including WHO and UNICEF. It has also been an opportunity to hand over the remaining 80 units of the 270 refrigerators purchased by UNICEF and funded by Japan.

"From the onset of the pandemic, Japan co-hosted with the GAVI Alliance in June 2021 a Virtual Summit to raise financial resources to ensure large doses of vaccines will be available to low-income countries. At the same time, Japan marked its presence alongside Senegal with donations of medical equipment and protective materials for health personnel, in addition to a donation of 270 refrigerators, of which the first batch of 180 units was handed over to the Ministry in December 2021". His Excellency Ambassador IZAWA expressed appreciation to UNICEF, for its role as coordinator of the COVAX Initiative. "This collaboration has significantly strengthened the logistical aspect of the Covid-19 response" he added.

While Senegal has made significant progress in the fight against Covid-19, efforts to scale up vaccination need to be accelerated. As of mid-March 2022, Senegal has vaccinated approximately 1.5 million people with one dose and over one million with two doses, representing only 6% of the general population. The Government, with the support of partners, is currently exploring ways to accelerate vaccination efforts in the country.

"While it is important to have an ever-increasing supply of vaccines, it is equally crucial to ensure that they are ready for deployment and that communities are informed and educated about the availability, safety and effectiveness of these vaccines," said Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Senegal. "This additional batch of vaccines, as well as the support provided by Japan in the deployment of vaccines and vaccination in the country will contribute to these efforts."

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, the Government of Japan provided emergency assistance to Senegal in May 2020 with an initial donation of US$ 2.6 million - enabling UNICEF to provide technical support to the government to strengthen both the management of the response and the health system and improve universal health coverage for its population. Japan's support has also been instrumental in ensuring the continuity of health, nutrition and protection services for 150,000 vulnerable children, women and their families during the crisis, thus contributing to the social protection of the population in the longer term.

Since the start of COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in Senegal in February 2021, Japan has stepped up its support by granting additional aid of more than US$ 960,000. This donation enabled UNICEF to strengthen the cold chain – with the purchase of 270 refrigerators and to ensure the safe distribution and delivery of vaccines in the country.

As well as leading the procurement and supply of COVID-19 vaccine, UNICEF, together with partners, is helping the country strengthen its cold and supply chains, training health workers and working with communities in addressing misinformation and building trust in vaccines and in the health systems that deliver lifesaving vaccines.

"We urge the populations, who are still hesitant, to get vaccinated in order to support the efforts of the health authorities to roll back this pandemic. It is only through vaccination that we can put an end to this pandemic", concluded Mrs. Danailov.

As a reminder, Japan is taking leadership for the promotion of vaccination within the framework of the Priority Global Action Plan for the COVID-19 pandemic for the enhanced commitment initiated by the United States in February 2022 and this donation of vaccines and refrigerators will contribute to strengthening the global health security architecture by achieving Universal Health Coverage.

About COVAX

COVAX is the vaccines pillar of the ACT-Accelerator. It is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organization (WHO) – working in partnership with developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers, UNICEF, the World Bank, Civil Society Organisations and others. COVAX is the only global initiative that is working with governments and manufacturers to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are rapidly available worldwide to economies of all financial means.

Find out more about UNICEF’s work on the COVID-19 vaccines here, or about UNICEF’s work on immunization here.