South Africa has donated Covid-19 vaccinations worth more than R285 million to African countries.
The South African government on Friday said it has, through the African Renaissance Fund (ARF), signed an agreement with the African Vaccination Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to donate 2 030 400 doses of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccines to African countries.
The value of the donation is R288.6 million.
AVAT was formed following the establishment of the African Union’s Covid-19 African Vaccination Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) in November 2020 by President Cyril Ramaphosa as the then Chairperson of the AU.
The main purpose of the Task Team is to secure the necessary vaccines and financing resources for achieving Africa’s Covid-19 vaccination strategy which targets vaccinating a minimum of 60 percent of the continent’s population.
The donation by the South African Government will be produced at the Aspen Pharma pharm manufacturing plant in Gqeberha, South Africa operated by Aspen Pharma.
The vaccine will be made available to African countries through the African Medical Suppliers Platform (AMSP), over the next year.
Ramaphosa said: “This donation embodies South Africa’s solidarity with our brothers and sisters on the continent with whom we are united in fighting an unprecedented threat to public health and economic prosperity.
“The only way in which we can prevent Covid-19 transmission and protect economies and societies on our continent is to successfully immunise a critical mass of the African population with safe and effective vaccines.”
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Dr. Naledi Pandor said while serving as African Union chair, South Africa initiated a coordinated African response that focused on addressing immediate challenges to public health systems and mitigating the economic and humanitarian crisis arising from the pandemic.
This included establishing a Covid-19 Response Fund and launching the African Medical Supplies Platform to ensure all countries had access to the necessary equipment and supplies.
African Union Special Envoy Strive Masiyiwa said “this generous donation from the people of South Africa” would be distributed directly to the lowest income member states, as quickly as possible.
“As AVAT we have already received and distributed over 100 million doses of donated vaccines, most of which came as a result of President Ramaphosa’s tireless efforts with the richest nations like the United States, EU, and France,” said Masiyiwa.
“In addition, AVAT has entered into direct purchase of over 500 million doses, mostly produced in South Africa.”
