This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/529410-us-donate-millions-covid-vaccines-africa/

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
US to donate 25 million vaccine doses to African countries under COVAX as continent struggles to weather third wave US to donate 25 million vaccine doses to African countries under COVAX as continent struggles to weather third wave
(2 months later)
The Biden administration has announced that it will ship 25 million doses of Covid vaccines to 49 countries across Africa through the Covax jab distribution scheme, as infections and deaths on the continent rise dramatically.The Biden administration has announced that it will ship 25 million doses of Covid vaccines to 49 countries across Africa through the Covax jab distribution scheme, as infections and deaths on the continent rise dramatically.
The US State Department’s coordinator for Covid-19 recovery and global health, Gayle Smith, announced the plan in a statement on Friday, saying it was being made “in partnership with the African Union and COVAX.”The US State Department’s coordinator for Covid-19 recovery and global health, Gayle Smith, announced the plan in a statement on Friday, saying it was being made “in partnership with the African Union and COVAX.”
It was also announced that one million doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine are set to arrive in Burkina Faso, Dijibouti and Ethiopia in the coming days.It was also announced that one million doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine are set to arrive in Burkina Faso, Dijibouti and Ethiopia in the coming days.
The vaccines will be delivered through COVAX, a scheme set up to tackle vaccine inequality and run jointly by Gavi, the UN International Children’s Emergency Fund, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.The vaccines will be delivered through COVAX, a scheme set up to tackle vaccine inequality and run jointly by Gavi, the UN International Children’s Emergency Fund, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.
The director of the African Union’s Center for Disease Control, Dr John Nkengasong, heralded the deal, calling it “a proud moment for Africa in ensuring equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines.” The African Union’s special envoy, Strive Masiyiwa, similarly echoed praise for the US supplies, saying that the deal had been signed at a crucial moment “when we are witnessing the third wave in African countries.” The director of the African Union’s Center for Disease Control, Dr John Nkengasong, heralded the deal, calling it “a proud moment for Africa in ensuring equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines.” The African Union’s special envoy, Strive Masiyiwa, similarly echoed praise for the US supplies, saying that the deal had been signed at a crucial moment “when we are witnessing the third wave in African countries.” 
On Thursday, the WHO warned of the alarming rate of Covid-19's spread across the African continent, stating that the death toll had surged by 43% in one week, while one million cases were recorded in the span of one month. Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa, warned that hospitals in the most vulnerable regions are “reaching a breaking point,” struggling to cope without adequate medical equipment to treat Covid patients.On Thursday, the WHO warned of the alarming rate of Covid-19's spread across the African continent, stating that the death toll had surged by 43% in one week, while one million cases were recorded in the span of one month. Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa, warned that hospitals in the most vulnerable regions are “reaching a breaking point,” struggling to cope without adequate medical equipment to treat Covid patients.
Washington’s recent pledge to donate some 80 million of its vaccine doses to other countries – a figure which includes this latest tranche to African states – is a marked reversal of its earlier policy banning the export of vaccine materials. A spokesperson for the Biden administration said at the time that prioritizing the vaccine roll-out in America wasn’t just a domestic interest, but “in the interests of the rest of the world.”Washington’s recent pledge to donate some 80 million of its vaccine doses to other countries – a figure which includes this latest tranche to African states – is a marked reversal of its earlier policy banning the export of vaccine materials. A spokesperson for the Biden administration said at the time that prioritizing the vaccine roll-out in America wasn’t just a domestic interest, but “in the interests of the rest of the world.”
Despite the COVAX scheme’s efforts to help tackle the inequalities in access to Covid vaccines, out of Africa’s 1.3 billion population, only 1.5% are fully inoculated, according to data from WHO Africa published on July 15.Despite the COVAX scheme’s efforts to help tackle the inequalities in access to Covid vaccines, out of Africa’s 1.3 billion population, only 1.5% are fully inoculated, according to data from WHO Africa published on July 15.
Like this story? Share it with a friend!Like this story? Share it with a friend!
Dear readers and commenters,
We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system.
Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments,
RT Team.