By Alaskai Moore Johnson, alaskaijohnson@gmail.com +231777889870

Monrovia: The over 20,000 health workers and other essential personnel, including some in the security sector, are expected to be the very first persons to get the Covax Facility 96,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII).

Health Minister Dr. Jallah After Receiving Boxes of the Covax Facility Vaccines

“Our healthcare workers are very important to us; they are top on the list. They are going to be followed by people who are 60 and above, follow by people who have poor mobilities like diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease and anybody who falls along that line,” Health Minister Wilhelmina Jallah disclosed to journalist about the vaccine administration’s rollout plan on early Saturday, March 6, morning. She spoke after the government had received the vaccines.

She further stated that the next category of persons that will be vaccinated are going to be people who are more exposed, including journalists, police, soldiers, and other government workers. She also mentioned lawmakers and cabinet ministers as people who are going to be line for the jabs.

Mr. Adolphus Clarke, Director, EPI

Expanding further on the rollout plan, Mr. Adolphus Clarke, Director of Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) at the Ministry of Health, informed everyone that in the next five to 10 days beginning from that Saturday, they are going begin administering the vaccines. He buttressed his boss’ listing of the first group to be vaccinated. He, however, added that following the healthcare workers, adding: “If you look at the Covid sitrep or situation report, we still have five counties in more outbreak move and so we are thinking whether we should begin with those five counties and then gravitate towards other counties that are in preparedness phase.”

Vaccines Arrived on Saturday

Liberia on very early Saturday, March 6, received the first batch of its share of the Covax Facility vaccines.

A Euro Wings jumbo jet landed at the Roberts International Airport and offloaded two ‘Jetainers’, which contained six huge boxes of 96,000 doses of the Covid_19 vaccines.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) Liberia representatives, who turned over the boxes to Liberia through the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Health, the boxes containing the 96,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses were flown via the COVAX initiative, a partnership between Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations Gavi, UNICEF and WHO.

The United States, Team Europe (the European Union and the European Union Member States), the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada are among the main donors to the COVAX Facility.

UNICEF Statement & One UN Family

“The arrival of the vaccines in Liberia is part of the historic step towards achieving the goal of equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally, in what will be the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history. This delivery is part of a first wave of shipments that will continue to different countries in the coming days and weeks,” UNICEF said in a statement.

UNICEF further stated that the arrival of the 96,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), marks the first batch of vaccine shipped to Liberia by the COVAX initiative as part of its unprecedented efforts to deliver at least 2 billion doses of the vaccine globally by the end of 2021.

The UN specialized agency also revealed that ahead of the arrival of the vaccines, Liberia received 97,000 syringes and 600 safety boxes that will be used for the administration and disposal of immunization wastes. The syringes are vital as the vaccine itself and it is critical to have adequate supply of syringes in Liberia ahead of the arrival of the vaccine.

“The arrival of the first vaccines represents an important moment for Liberia as it gives the people a tool to halt a global disease that has already impacted the lives and livelihoods of so many. I’m very proud of Liberia team who made this important step a reality, “Jonna Jeurlink, Senior Country Manager at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Niels Scott, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia said, “the United Nations is proud to support the Government in saving lives and ensuring an equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX, the largest and most varied portfolio of COVID-19 vaccines globally.”

Dr. Peter Clement, WHO Representative in Liberia said “the delivery of vaccines to Liberia today is a historic moment and reaffirms WHO’s commitment to ensure access to life saving vaccines for eligible people in Liberia. It also signifies the strong partnership and collaboration to control COVID-19 in Liberia and globally. Let us continue with the COVID-19 preventive measures because these vaccines will not be used for mass vaccination but selected category of people.”

US Ambassador Michael A. McCarthy

For his part, the United States Ambassador to Liberia, Mr. Michael A. McCarthy, stated that Liberia’s successful fight against the COVID-19 has now taken a critical leap forward with the arrival of almost 100,000 doses of Covax vaccine to protect health workers and most vulnerable people throughout the country.

Amb. McCarthy stated further that the U.S. Government, through USAID, is pleased to provide support to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 response efforts.

According to him, the next step is most critical to providing the logistical support, and corrective measures to the public to ensure that the vaccines get to those who need it the most.

“The United States is committed to working with partners around the world including partners in Liberia, to end the devastating public health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and U.S. commitment of four million United States dollars to support the COVAX distribution on Liberia, built-on decades of U.S. investment in global health and global health organizations, demonstrates President Joe Biden’s commitment to ensuring multi-national partnership on global health issues.”

“We hope that Liberians will take the vaccine when given the opportunity. With our commitment to washing hands, wearing masks, and keeping social distance, we can jointly defeat this deadly COVID_19 pandemic,” U.S. Ambassador stated.

Foreign Minister Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah

Receiving the boxes, Foreign Minister Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr, cautioned against conspiracy theory against the administration of the COVID_19 vaccines in Liberia.

Foreign Minister Kemayah assured the WHO, the COVAX Facility and other international partners that the receipt of the COVAX vaccine will in no way make Liberia complacent in its fight against the global pandemic.

He further told the gathering that what Liberia received is due to the “astute leadership of President George Weah in the fight against Covid_19. What we have done so far to manage Covid_19 is not just from ordinary. It took leadership and it is still taking that leadership from the President.”

He stated that the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health will leave no stone unturned in the adherence to all health protocols and preventive measures.

“The Government of Liberia has as its prime obligation to ensure that the health of its people is maintained at all times.”

“So, you can be reassured that the vaccines are safe, and you must do away with every conspiracy theory to the contrary,” Foreign Minister Kemayah stated.

Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah During Receipt of Vaccines

Also speaking, Health Minister, Dr. Wilhelmina S. Jallah, lauded WHO and partners including the Covax Facility, for ensuring Liberia becomes a recipient of the COVAX Vaccine.

Minister Jallah stated that the consignment of COVAX Vaccine is very important to the government of Liberia continued fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

She stated that the government attaches serious importance to the protection of its citizens especially with the arrival COVAX Vaccine.

“We have already begun receiving calls from Liberians willingness to take the COVAX Vaccine. We hope this will be echoed across Liberia.” She informed everyone that more vaccines are expected in the country and that the next batch is going to come in in May, while another batch is going to come through the auspices of the African Union (AU).

She, however, still cautioned Liberians to keep their masks on while in the public, to social distance and keep washing their hands.

Representative Joseph N. Somwarbi, Chairman on Health, HOR

Representative Joseph N. Somwarbi, the Chairman on Health in the House of Representatives, expressed the House’s gratitude of the vaccines. He pledged the House’s full support in doing all to work with the relevant government agencies to get rid of Covid_19.

Other Important Pieces of Information

Alongside Liberia, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo are among nations to receive the first vaccines. Ghana was the first in the West Africa sub-region. It got 600,000 doses. It was followed by neighboring Cote d’Ivoire. As of Thursday, Africa had reported at least 3,955,000 infections and 104,000 deaths.

That is still a relatively small toll compared to other continents, with higher national death counts in the United States, India, Brazil, Russia and Britain.

As of Thursday, Africa had reported at least 3,955,000 infections and 104,000 deaths. That is still a relatively small toll compared to other continents, with higher national death counts in the United States, India, Brazil, Russia and Britain.

The highest consignment so far has gone to Nigeria with close to 4 million doses delivered days ago. Vaccination kicked off yesterday whiles the president Muhammadu Buhari received his coronavirus shot publicly today at the presidency.

The 17 served nations are listed below – in no particular order:

Ghana – 600,000 (AstraZeneca shots); Ivory Coast – 500,000, Nigeria – 3.92 million, Angola – 624,000, Democratic Republic of Congo – 1,700,000, Kenya – 1,000,000, The Gambia – 36,000,
Rwanda – 240,000 (AZ shots) and 102,960 (Pfizer shots), Djibouti – undisclosed, Sao Tome and Principe’ – 24,000, Senegal- 324,000, Malawi – 360,000, Mali – 396,000, Sudan – 800,000, Uganda – 864,000, Liberia – 96,000 and Lesotho – 36,000