Liberia Formally Launches J&J Vaccination Rollout Thursday, August 5; Targets 2, 111, 000 Persons

Health

Liberia Formally Launches J&J Vaccination Rollout Thursday, August 5; Targets 2, 111, 000 Persons

IPNEWS: The Government of Liberia through the Incident Management System on COVID-19, and Partners are expected to launch officially the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine on tomorrow in Monrovia.

The official launch which is expected to be held simultaneously at the Monrovia City Hall and the Paynesville Town Hall will see the Minister of Health Dr. Wilhelmina S. Jallah, and array of dignitaries including United States Ambassador to Liberia, Ambassador Michael A. McCarthy, Head of Agencies of WHO and UNICEF, senior Government officials, staff form the United Nations family, the International Rescue Committee, Members of the Incident Management System, Montserrado County Health Team and the media.

Ahead of the official launch of the J&J Vaccine, Health Minister, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah has extended thanks to the US Government and all the partners involved in the COVID-19 response efforts, notably the World Health Organization, UNICEF and GAVI.

Minister Jallah notes that these vaccines will go a long way in boosting the covid-19 vaccination campaign initiated earlier launched this year by the Ministry of Health and partners.

It may be recalled, Liberia on 25th July 2021 received a donation of 302,400 doses of the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine from the United States Government through the COVAX facility; a partnership of CEPI, GAVI, UNICEF and WHO to expand the COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the country.

Prior to the arrival of the J&J Vaccine, in March of this year, the Liberia also received 96,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and so far, over 95,000 doses have been administered. With the arrival of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, the country will resume the vaccination campaign on August 5, 2021, simultaneously across Liberia, which has been halted after vaccines previously received were used up amid case surge in in June and July.

The Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine is available for those who have not taken any covid-19 vaccines. The J&J is a one dose vaccine.

In anticipation of the rollout on Thursday, August 5, 2021, the Incident Management System (IMS), in collaboration with the Montserrado County Health Team, has set up forty (40) Health Facilities across Montserrado County, Ten (10) temporary sites including the Monrovia City Hall, Paynesville City Hall, Barnesville Town Hall, Gardenesville Town Hall, GSA Yard, and Famington Hotel.

The Incident Management System has also designated twenty (20) market sites for J&J Vaccination including the Waterside Market, Red Light General Market, Goba-chop, Jacob’s Town Market, Redemption Day-Gardnesville, Jukpan Town, ELWA Market, Duala Market, Kuwait Market, Clara Town, Old Road, Poultry Market (Red Light community), VOA Market, Duport Road Market, Rehab Market, Rally Town, Roto Town Market, Pepperwood Town Market, Barnesville Market and 72nd Market. All persons 18 years and above are eligible for the J&J COVID-19 Vaccines, including Pregnant or breast-feeding mothers, People with medical conditions ( high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, etc.)

The J&J COVID-19 Vaccine IS safe, effective, and used worldwide. Importantly it Keeps you, your family and community safe and helps to prevent more COVID-19 sicknesses and deaths