Gov’t makes u-turn, rolls out Covid-19 vaccine starting with Health minister, Elizabeth Achuei

Government makes U-turn, rolls out the Covid-19 vaccine starting with Minister of Health Elizabeth Achuei and frontline health workers being the first people to receive AstraZeneca Vaccine at Juba Teaching Hospital.

South Sudan’s COVID-19 vaccination drive kicked off with health workers getting their first dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine at Juba Teaching Hospital.

Healthcare workers in Juba were among the first to receive their jabs of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with elderly persons also targeted.

A person being vaccinated with the Astra Zeneca vaccine requires two doses to ensure optimal immune response against the COVID-19 virus. The COVID-19 vaccination in South Sudan will be provided on a voluntary basis and free of charge.  All people receiving the vaccine will be asked to consent prior to being vaccinated.

“The COVID-19 vaccination marks an important step towards control of COVID-19 in South Sudan, which pose a threat to our well-being”, said Dr Fabian Ndenzako, WHO Representative a.i. for South Sudan. “Safe, effective, and quality vaccines for COVID-19 are our best hope for bringing the pandemic under control, together with other public health interventions, such as physical distancing, washing hands, and mask use”.

South Sudan received the 132,000 doses of the Astra Zeneca shots on March 25 through the support of the World Health Organization’s COVAX Facility established to ensure all countries can equitably access Covid-19 vaccines.

South Sudan’s top government officials are also expected to take their jabs soon.

Through the COVAX Facility, 732,000 doses of vaccines are expected to be deployed to South Sudan in the first half of 2021.

By Tuesday, the country had reported 10,286 coronavirus infections with 113 deaths.