France donates 10 million Covid-19 vaccines to Africa
The French government is working with its partners for the delivery of 10 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Africa.
All 10 million doses will constitute both AstraZeneca and Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines which will be distributed to African Union states over the next three months through a new partnership between the French government and the African Union.
Allocation and distribution of the vaccines will be done through the initiative of the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) and the COVAX global Vaccine initiative.
President Emmanuel Macron of France has been a powerful advocate for Africa’s need to have equitable access to vaccines to tackle the pandemic. He is the first leader outside Africa to acknowledge the efforts of the African Union member states to build an institution like AVAT.
The AVAT initiative was set up as a procurement mechanism for member states of the African Union to be able to procure enough vaccines for at least 50% of their needs. The initiative works closely with COVAX which is tasked with providing the other 50% through donations.
Speaking on the donation, His Excellency Emmanual Macron, President of the French Republic, said: “The solution to the pandemic will only come from strong cooperation, between multilateral, regional and national actors. Based on our solid partnership with the African Union, I want us to build together on the expertise and the political legitimacy of African leaders. Thus 10 million doses of Astra Zeneca and Pfizer vaccines will be donated by the French people to the African Union, who will decide on their allocation, in coordination with COVAX. This demonstrates my will, as President of France, to stand shoulder to shoulder with African people and face the pandemic together.”
On the other hand, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa said: “The donation by the French Republic of 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the African continent is a clear and welcome demonstration of human solidarity and political cooperation at a time the world needs this most. A safer and healthier Africa is a prerequisite for a safer and healthier world. I commend President Macron and the government and people of France for this important contribution to our continent’s fight against illness and against the unfortunate and avoidable reality of unequal access to vaccines in many regions of the world, including Africa.”
Source: Heizel Joshua | myactiveonline.com
