Times Of Swaziland: RELIEF FOR ESWATINI AS ASTRAZENECA EXPECTED END OF MAY

RELIEF FOR ESWATINI AS ASTRAZENECA EXPECTED END OF MAY
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BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA on 27/04/2021 08:07:00


MBABANE - EmaSwati may heave a sigh of relief as India has resolved to export
the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine by the end of May.
This means that people who have been vaccinated in the country might certainly
get their second dose of the said vaccine within the recommended eight to 12
weeks from the first dose. About a month ago, it was reported that the
beneficiaries of the COVAX facility, including Eswatini, would suffer a short
supply of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine after India’s decision to halt the
exportation of vaccines from their country after their COVID-19 daily infection
rate skyrocketed. The Serum Institute of India (SII) supplies COVAX with the
Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
COVAX is a facility formed of Gavi, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and
other globally recognised entities, which were formed to supply low and middle
income countries with COVID-19 vaccines, protecting from unfair distribution.
Eswatini is among the beneficiaries of COVAX and already, the country has
benefitted 12 000 Oxford AstraZeneca doses from the facility. The 12 000
vaccines were added on to the 20 000 Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine doses from the
Indian Government, totalling the number of secured doses in the country to 32
000.
Expecting
Currently, over 34 897 emaSwati have been vaccinated with the first jab of the
said vaccine candidate and they are expecting to receive their second jab from
May 26. According to reports from international media houses including Reuters,
The Daily Star and US News, problems that have delayed the Oxford AstraZeneca
supplies to the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility have since been resolved. The
reports revealed that India would export about 65 million vaccines by the end of
May. “The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has been disrupted by supply shortfalls
in many countries, aggravated by a temporary hold on exports of the inoculation
made by the Serum Institute of India (SII) as the country battles to contain a
surge in infections.
“COVAX is also holding talks with New Delhi for SII to resume supplies of the
AstraZeneca vaccine,” read the reports. When sought for comment, World Health
Organisation (WHO) Health Promotion Officer Dr Kevin Makadzange said he was not
aware of the new resolutions that India made. “We might be briefed about this
on our talking points for meeting,” said Makadzange. In the meantime, Director
of Health Services Dr Vusi Magagula said according to their plans, nothing had
changed as they were still expecting a consignment of vaccines from COVAX in May
so emaSwati could get their second dose.