COVID-19 vaccines shipped by COVAX arrive in Zambia – donation by France
COVAX local press statement on arrival of 228,000 vaccines in Zambia.
5 July 2021 (LUSAKA) – A second shipment of 228,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses has been delivered to Zambia, following a donation of vaccines by France through the COVAX Facility, a partnership between CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF and WHO. The delivery arranged by UNICEF will provide an important boost to the on-going COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Zambia, which is currently in the midst of a third wave of infections and deaths.
“We are extremely grateful to the Government of France for this donation, which comes at such a crucial moment for the fight against COVID-19 in Zambia,” said Dr Kennedy Malama, the Permanent Secretary-Technical Services at the Ministry of Health. “People in Zambia are keen to complete their COVID-19 vaccinations for maximum protection, and this and future donations give them an opportunity to take the vaccine and be protected.”
At the World Health Summit in May this year the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, pledged that France would donate at least 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2021.
H.E. Mr. François Goldblatt, Ambassador of the French Republic in Zambia, declared: “France was one of the first countries to affirm its willingness to donate doses of safe and effective vaccines, approved by the WHO, in addition to its financial contributions. These doses are intended to accelerate the vaccination of first front-line workers, namely health workers, as well as the most vulnerable populations, in accordance with the allocation framework defined within the WHO.”
José Manuel Barroso, Gavi Board Chair, commented: “At this time of constrained global supply, we are delighted to see dose-sharing pledges translated into deliveries now, and look forward to seeing these doses reaching vulnerable groups around the world.”
United Nations Resident Coordinator, Dr Coumba Mar Gadio: “This delivery really comes at the most important time for Zambia to continue the momentum of the vaccination campaign. And we hope to see even more Zambian fellow citizens benefit from these additional vaccines.”
Boilerplate language
COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO) – working in partnership with UNICEF as key implementing partner, as well as civil society organisations, vaccine manufacturers, the World Bank, and others.
Notes to Editors
Full COVAX News Note to Editors: https://www.who.int/initiatives/act-accelerator/covax/covax-news-note-to-editors
List of donor pledges to the Gavi COVAX AMC: https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/covid/covax/COVAX-AMC-Donors-Table.pdf
UNICEF COVAX page https://www.unicef.org/supply/covax-ensuring-global-equitable-access-covid-19-vaccines
Media contacts
CEPI Press office, Telephone: +44 7387 055214, Email: press@cepi.net
GAVI, Meghana Sharafudeen: +41 79 711 55 54 msharafudeen@gavi.org
Evan O'Connell +33 6 17 57 21 26 econnell@gavi.org
UNICEF Zambia country office, John James, +260 977 300 636, jjames@unicef.org
WHO Zambia country office, Nora Mweemba, +260 977 873 976, mweemban@who.int
Media contacts
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children in Zambia, visit www.unicef.org/zambia.
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