Senegal strongly committed to accelerating vaccination against Covid-19 throughout the country

DAKAR (Senegal), 12 May 2022 – As he wrapped up his visit to Senegal, Ted Chaiban, Global Lead Coordinator for COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership (CoVDP) witnessed Senegal's commitment to accelerate vaccination efforts against Covid-19 throughout the country.

From May 9 to 11, the CoVDP delegation conducted a series of meetings with all stakeholders in Senegal to understand immunization bottlenecks and explore ways in which the CoVDP can help Senegal accelerate its vaccination coverage.

“Senegal’s response to the Covid-19 has been exceptional, it put in place health measures that helped the country contain the risks of death and serious forms of the disease. We witnessed Senegal's vaccination efforts when Covid-19 claimed lives," Ted Chaiban said.

“But now we should remind that Covid-19 is still with us and we are at the mercy of a future variant.  For these reasons it is important to accelerate efforts by vaccinating the most vulnerable."

The mission was marked by working sessions with representatives of the Government, development partners, civil society, religious leaders and community organizations, frontline health workers and the community itself.

“In our meetings with Senegal’s leaders – including the Minister of Health, with civil society, religious leaders, young people, women… everyone has committed to activate an acceleration phase of the vaccination to protect the most vulnerable," he said.

The Government has developed an acceleration plan that focuses on vaccination of high-risk groups including the elderly, people with co-morbidities and front-line health workers.

The vaccination acceleration phase in Senegal will rely on strong community mobilization, strengthening community dialogue and organized networks, with an approach centered on districts and regions.

“We have seen the commitment of health personnel. The existing community mobilization structures are ready to support vaccination efforts. We have been encouraged by the fact that health system structures and capacities in Senegal can be mobilized for vaccination" he added.

"We have been impressed by the fact that community agents that exist in Senegal - such as the Badienu Gox are available, and that religious leaders are ready to support the acceleration phase."

Development partners have also reaffirmed their commitment to support the Government’s plan technically and financially.

“Let us ensure that the most vulnerable people are vaccinated, that we are ready to face a possible resurgence of Covid-19 and that this opportunity that we have to protect ourselves is realized” he concluded.

About CoVDP

Recognizing the urgency of turning vaccines into vaccinations, WHO, UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, have launched the Covid-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership (CoVDP) to accelerate vaccination coverage in countries that are struggling to meet their vaccination targets.

The CoVDP mainly supports the 92 Advance Market Commitment countries and provides urgent and concerted support to 34 countries whose vaccination coverage was equal to or less than 10% in January 2022.

The CoVDP works with countries to understand immunization bottlenecks and help them quickly access operational funding, technical assistance and emergency relief, political commitment and planning for demand and supply to plan, implement and scale up their vaccination response and monitor progress towards national and global targets.