Khartoum: Sudan has become the first country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to receive vaccines against covid-19 from the COVAX facility.
On Wednesday, Over 800,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine touched down at the Khartoum International Airport.
The vaccines were delivered with UNICEF’s support through COVAX, a coalition co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi, the Global Vaccines Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), working on the equitable distribution of covid-19 vaccines to countries regardless of their income.
The delivery follows the arrival of 4.5 Metric Tons of syringes and safety boxes, part of a Gavi-funded and supported global stockpile, that UNICEF delivered on behalf of the COVAX Facility last Friday, critical for the safe and effective vaccination.
WHO has worked with national authorities to put a vaccination strategy in place that includes training vaccinators, ensuring vaccine safety, and surveillance for adverse effects.
The initial consignment of vaccines received today in Sudan will support the vaccination of health care workers and people above 45 years old with chronic medical conditions, living in areas with high transmission or anticipated high transmission, marking the first phase of the nationwide vaccination campaign.
“The vaccines are a critical part of controlling the spread of the virus in Sudan and eventually return to normalcy,” said Dr. Omer Mohamed Elnagieb, Sudan's Minister of Health, in a press release on Wednesday.
Globally and in Sudan, COVID-19 has disrupted delivery of essential services and continues to claim lives and disrupt livelihoods.
As of March 1, Sudan had over 28,505 confirmed covid-19 cases and 1,892 associated deaths.
"Our hope in recovery from the pandemic is through the vaccines," Abdullah Fadil, Representative of UNICEF Sudan, affirmed.
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