The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines purchased by the Mastercard Foundation and the Africa CDC through the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative have arrived in Nigeria. The Johnson and Johnson brand vaccines arrived at the international wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja at 4.30p.m. on Monday, November 29.
According to the organisation, UNICEF Nigeria received the vaccines and will be responsible for the logistics and delivery to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) for cold storage and distribution to vaccination centres.
Saving Lives and Livelihoods is focused on the purchase and delivery of over 65 million vaccines for the continent of Africa. The initiative aims to enable vaccination for millions of people, develop a workforce for vaccine manufacturing, and strengthen the Africa CDC’s capacity to oversee a historic vaccination campaign and effectively respond to future outbreaks.
Launched in June 2021, Saving Lives and Livelihoods is a $1.5 billion partnership that aims to enable vaccination for millions of people, develop a workforce for vaccine manufacturing, and strengthen the Africa CDC’s capacity to oversee a historic vaccination campaign and effectively respond to future outbreaks.
“Timely delivery of these vaccines underscores the effectiveness of the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust. Working with the Africa CDC and multiple organisations, the Mastercard Foundation will support the rollout of vaccinations to millions across the continent.
“More remains to be done to increase vaccination rates urgently. We call on governments, funders, civil society, and others to step forward to save lives and livelihoods in Africa,” said Reeta Roy, President, and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation.
“We are steadily picking up momentum in the continental vaccination effort. In September, the first tranche of AVAT-purchased vaccines began rolling out to 39 countries. Now we are announcing the delivery of vaccines purchased through the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative. And we are working hard on the ground to get jabs-in-arms, which is the ultimate measure of success,” said Dr. John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa CDC.
Vaccines purchased under Saving Lives and Livelihoods build on a historic agreement negotiated by the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) earlier this year to purchase 400 million Johnson and Johnson vaccines and a more recent contract for the purchase of 50 million Moderna vaccines.
