By Nasratu Kargbo
Sierra Leone has received 52, 800 vials containing 264,000 doses of Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from Africa Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) with support from other major strategic partners.
Speaking at the Freetown International Airport, Lungi, the Spokesman for the National COVID-19 Emergency Recovery Centre (NaCOVERC) to receive the drugs, Solomon Jamiru said it was a very significant consignment and thanked AVAT, African Union (AU), the AU Centre for Disease Control, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank, on behalf of the government and people of Sierra Leone. He said the new arrivals will diversify the vaccine portfolio in the country.
Jamiru asked all stakeholders such as SLAJ, Paramount Chiefs, Members of Parliament, the Entertainment Industry, Motor Drivers Union and the Inter-Religious Council to help in educating the public about the need to take the jab, so as to have a higher number of the population vaccinated.
UNICEF’s Communications Specialist, Tapuwa Mutseyekwa said they have been supporting with procurement of vaccines against the pandemic, as well as logistics and in ensuring that the drugs that arrive in the country are within the right temperature.
She assured the government of UNICEF’s support in rolling out the vaccines and in making sure that there is proper awareness. She advised all who are eligible to take the vaccine, to do so in order to fight COVID-19 and get back to normal way of life.
The NaCOVERC Coordinator in Lungi, Haji Kella said the government has been working assiduously with all other partners to ensure the virus is eradicated, stating that the country has received AstraZeneca, Sinopharm and now Johnson and Johnson, and looked forward to receiving more.
The Chief of Staff of NaCOVERC, Larry Bassie said the donation was timely for the fight against COVID-19. He said the country has gone through three waves successfully and that as of now, “the vaccine is the way to go”.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (03/09/21)
