About 360,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses distributed to Yemen
In a statement, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund declared that Yemen received today 360,000 coronavirus vaccine doses through the COVAX Facility. It also said that the AstraZeneca vaccines could help health workers and other vulnerable groups to be protected against COVID-19.
The statement also indicated that Yemen received 360,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses shipped via the COVAX Facility, which is a partnership between the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).
It also reported that the AstraZeneca vaccines licensed and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India would enable health workers and other priority populations vulnerable to COVID-19 to be protected against the virus.
According to UNICEF, Yemen received a total of 360,000 doses arrived with 13,000 safety boxes and 1,300,000 syringes, adding that the first lot is part of 1.9 million doses that Yemen would firstly receive during 2021.
On his part, UNICEF Representative Philippe Duamelle said: The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine doses is a critical moment for Yemen, adding: As COVID-19 continues to claim lives around the world, Yemen now has the capacity to protect those most at risk, including health workers, so that they can safely continue to provide life-saving interventions for children and families. Vaccines work, vaccines save lives, now let’s start getting people vaccinated.
In fact, the COVAX global vaccine-sharing system guarantees that 92 of the poorest countries in the world could get the vaccines, while the cost would cover by donors. The system goal is to distribute enough doses to vaccinate about 27 percent of their populations by the end of 2021.
Moreover, Rehan Hafiz, Senior Country Manager Yemen, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, stated: Thanks to the work of the Government of Yemen and of the COVAX partners, and with the support of our donors, we are now able to protect our most vulnerable populations. Our work is only just beginning but the arrival of the first COVAX Covid-19 doses is a major milestone for Yemen.
