The United States Embassy in Monrovia has announced the donation by the United States Government of about 302,400 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s global efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The donated vaccines are part of the U.S. pledge to initially provide at least 25 million of 80 million doses globally with Africa.
The U.S. Government coordinated closely with the African Union and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on the country allocations.
The vaccine doses arrived via COVAX last night and are expected to help protect Liberians from the ravages of the COVID-19 virus and reduce barriers to building back the Liberian economy.
“We are proud to continue working together with the Liberian Government, the private sector, and civil society to do everything we can to mitigate the pandemic’s high toll on life, livelihoods, and social impacts,” remarked Ambassador Michael McCarthy.
“To everyone who has not been vaccinated, I strongly encourage you to do so—as I did—as soon as you have the opportunity. As we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic at home and work to end the pandemic worldwide, President Biden has promised that the United States will be an arsenal of vaccines for the world,” the U.S. Ambassador noted.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has assured that it will begin rolling out the Johnson and Johnson Vaccine as received to the population nationwide one week following its arrival in the country.
Health workers were at the Roberts International Airport on Sunday, July 25 to take delivery of the consignment of over 300,000 vaccines donated to Liberia by the United States Government early this week.
Health Minister Wilhelmina Jallah told the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) news conference on Saturday, July 24, that the vaccine is an assistance from the Americans to Liberia through the African Center for Disease Control (CDC) of the African Union.
Jallah stated amongst many things that the J & J Vaccine is a single dose only for new people or those who did not take the first dose like the health workers, the elderly and others, and not those who have taken the same indicating that the vaccine has been tested and approved by scientists in the United States and that of the World Health Organization (WHO) for use everywhere.
Jallah advanced further that the Johnson and Johnson Vaccine that is in country is significant and timely as it has reached the World Health Organization (WHO) benchmark of reducing infection before September of this year.
The Minister also announced plans in the country before the close of July, if not, early August to have in the country the AstraZeneca Vaccine for those who have taken the first dose and are awaiting the second.