S. Sudan to receive almost 1 million COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine doses

JUBA – South Sudan government said on Sunday that it was preparing to obtain 864,000 doses of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines in coming days to strengthen its fight against the deadly pandemic. The first consignment of the vaccine is expected to reach the country from Europe by the end of this month, according to the ministry of health.

Dr. John Rumunu, director-general for preventive health services at the ministry of health told reporters during routine COVID-19 weekly media briefly in Juba on Sunday that COVAX   has allocated COVID-19 does to the world’s youngest nation to protect its citizens against the deadly pandemic.

“I am happy to inform you that we have met all the requirement, and we have received information from COVAX that there is 864,000 does of AstraZeneca a vaccine that has been allocated to South Sudan and depending on the process, South Sudan will be able to receive this consignment latest end of February,” Rumunu told reporters

The Ministry of Health applied to Global Alliance for Vaccines to acquired  coronavirus vaccines to protect citizens from the pandemic in January.

The health official said they  will target health workers, and people with underlying conditions.

“Who should be prioritized for the vaccine, we have forth line health workers, we have people  having underlying conditions like diabetes, we have categories of people living with HIV/AIDS and economically active population, ” Rumunu said.

As of Sunday, 7 February 2021, there have been 4,492 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 66 deaths.