Argentina, United States Donate Vaccines to Mozambique – IDN-InDepthNews

by Castor Ken Clomegah

MOSCOW l MAPUTO (IDN) – The United States and Argentina embassies in Maputo have donated large amounts of vaccines to the government of the Republic of Mozambique. As part of their tremendous and recognizable contribution to help fight the spread of the coronavirus, the United States offered 840,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines, while Argentina delivered 450,000 doses of AstraZeneca.

These donations are part of the commitment of the US and Argentine governments to share vaccines safely, without strings attached, and with the primary objective of saving human lives in the southern African country.

For the United States, this was the third bilateral COVID-19 vaccine distribution for Mozambique, bringing the total number of vaccines donated by the US to 1,478,000 and retaining the United States as the largest bilateral vaccine donor ever . According to official reports, the United States had previously donated 336,000 vaccines in September and 302,400 in July.

US Ambassador to Mozambique Dennis W. “This aid is another example of the strength of the US-Mozambique relationship, which builds on decades of health cooperation between the two countries,” Hearn said. “Safe and effective vaccines are our best tool to end the pandemic in every country around the world.”

The US government has committed to buying and donating 1.1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses worldwide. To date, the United States has distributed more than 243 million doses of the vaccine in more than 100 countries. The 92 Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) Advance Market Commitment Economy and commitment to providing a COVID-19 vaccine to African Union member states will continue to fulfill US President Biden’s commitment to strengthen the fight against the global pandemic.

In Mozambique, the US government has provided prompt and sustained assistance for the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including US$62.5 million in assistance. The aid includes 60 oxygen cylinders donated this month to Mozambique’s Ministry of Health, 50 ventilators, personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, laboratory and oxygen equipment, funding for training and increased medical staff, among other initiatives.

In close cooperation with the government of the Republic of Mozambique, the US government provides more than US$500 million in annual aid to improve the quality of education and health care, promote economic prosperity, and support the nation’s overall development.

According to a media release in late November, it was the largest single donation of vaccines received by Mozambique, and the first consignment sent by Argentina to other countries.

“Argentina is part of a global system of reciprocity established to donate vaccines to reduce infection levels and the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic,” the release said. “It is an international mechanism, which was recently mentioned by the countries involved during the G20 summit as an effective response of solidarity against the pandemic.”

The embassy said Argentina has offered vaccines to several other countries that face an urgent need for more vaccines, and has received favorable responses from ten countries besides Mozambique. After receiving more than seven million doses of the vaccine, which has allowed it to ramp up its own vaccination program, providing full protection to most of the population, Argentina says it is now donating vaccines to countries in greater need. Can do.

The Argentine authorities are motivated by the principles of solidarity and fraternity with the people of Mozambique and other countries in need of the vaccine, the release said. It added that “this donation of AstraZeneca vaccines will contribute to the vaccination objectives established by Mozambique.”

Mozambique is experiencing a period of low transmission of COVID-19 across all provinces with a total of 1,938 deaths and 151,488 cases as of the end of November, of whom 98% have recovered from the disease.

The government of Mozambique aims to vaccinate approximately 16.8 million people. Pregnant women and children under the age of 15 are excluded from vaccination. According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health, the number of fully vaccinated against the disease is now 3,324,849, and 6,158,360 have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Mozambique shares borders with South Africa where a new COVID variant (B.1.1.529), renamed Omicron, is currently spreading. Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Britain joined the United States in restricting flights from the region, southern Africa, among others.

US President Joe Biden has announced travel restrictions on flights to and from South Africa and seven other countries, effective November 29. Biden made the announcement after consulting with his chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci. The other seven countries are Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi.

The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union of 27 countries, also proposed a complete suspension of flights to and from southern Africa until there is a “clear understanding of the danger”, which is stated by the new version. was presented. But, the United Nations’ World Health Organization (WHO) has urged against travel restrictions at this stage.

*Kester Kane is a frequent and passionate contributor to Clomega IDN. During his professional career as a researcher specializing in Russia-Africa policy, which spanned nearly two decades, he was detained and interrogated several times by the Federal Security Services for reporting facts. Most of his rich articles are reprinted in many reputed foreign media. [IDN-InDepthNews – 28 November 2021]

Photo: US Ambassador to Mozambique Dennis W. Hearn with Mozambique’s Minister of Health Armindo Tiago and COVAX Initiative partners. credit: US Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique

IDN is the lead agency of the nonprofit International Press Syndicate,

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