Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team set up by the African Union has confirmed delivery of additional offer of 300 million Sputnik V vaccines from Russia.
Africa Medical Supplies Platform stated that the additional vaccine doses aimed at Africa’s attainment of its 60 per cent target immunisation includes a financing package for any member state wishing to secure the vaccine.
Director of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. John Nkengasong, said, “We are grateful to receive the Sputnik V vaccines from the Russian Federation and tremendously proud to be able to offer them on the African Medical Supplies Platform for our AU member states.”
According to him, bilateral and private sector partnerships are critical in the continent’s efforts to end the pandemic.
“African Union member states that wish to secure funding should approach the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) through their central banks, as has been the case with other vaccines that have been on offer. The Board of Afreximbank, last week, approved the $2bn Advance Purchase Commitment for the participating suppliers, allowing the finalisation of supply contracts,” he added.
AVATT disclosed that the 270 million doses previously secured from AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnsons were all taken up by the first allocation phase deadline through AMSP.
With the additional 300 million Sputnik V vaccines, AMSP will accelerate online COVID-19 vaccines pre-orders for the 55 AU member states.
Sputnik V vaccines will be available for 12 months from May 2021.
AU member states are all invited to visit the AMSP site and use their national access code issued to all member states’ ministers of finance and health to start the pre-order process.
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