The COVID-19 vaccines purchased by the Mastercard Foundation and the Africa CDC through the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative have arrived in Nigeria.
The Johnson and Johnson brand of vaccines arrived at the international wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, last week, a statement from Mastercard Foundation indicates.
UNICEF Nigeria received the vaccines and will be responsible for the logistics and delivery to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) for cold storage and distribution to vaccination centres.
Saving Lives and Livelihoods is focused on the purchase and delivery of more than 65 million vaccines for the continent of Africa.
The initiative aims to enable vaccination for millions of people, develop a workforce for vaccine manufacturing, and strengthen the Africa CDC’s capacity to oversee a historic vaccination campaign and effectively respond to future outbreaks.
President, and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation, Reeta Roy, stated that timely delivery of the vaccines “underscores the effectiveness of the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust.”
The President in the statement added, “Working with the Africa CDC and multiple organizations, the Mastercard Foundation will support the rollout of vaccinations to millions across the continent. More remains to be done to increase vaccination rates urgently. We call on governments, funders, civil society, and others to step forward to save lives and livelihoods in Africa.”
Director of the Africa CDC, Dr. John Nkengasong, said the African CDC is making a stride in ramping up vaccination in the continent.
He said, “We are steadily picking up momentum in the continental vaccination effort. In September, the first tranche of AVAT-purchased vaccines began rolling out to 39 countries. Now we are announcing the delivery of vaccines purchased through the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative. And we are working hard on the ground to get jabs-in-arms, which is the ultimate measure of success.”
