• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Africa

Congo starts re-deployment of expiring COVID-19 vaccines to other African countries

30 April 2021, 7:00 AM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
Congo delayed its rollout after several European countries suspended use of the AstraZeneca shot in response to reports of rare blood clots.

Congo delayed its rollout after several European countries suspended use of the AstraZeneca shot in response to reports of rare blood clots.

Image: Reuters

Congo delayed its rollout after several European countries suspended use of the AstraZeneca shot in response to reports of rare blood clots.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has begun re-deploying hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 vaccines to other African nations which it says it won’t be able to administer before they expire at the end of June, its health minister said on Thursday.

On Thursday afternoon, a plane from Angola picked up almost half a million doses of the AstraZeneca (AZN.L) vaccine, which had been supplied to Congo through the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility on March 2.

Congo delayed its rollout after several European countries suspended use of the AstraZeneca shot in response to reports of rare blood clots.

Ghana, Togo, Central African Republic and Madagascar will also receive some of the 1.3 million doses Congo is reallocating, health minister Jean-Jacques Mbungani told Reuters.

“It is a sign of solidarity that the Congo is giving to its brother countries,” Mbungani said.

Congo will recover those doses via the COVAX scheme at a later date, he said. “It’s important to redeploy, that’s the right term, it’s not a donation.”

Congo received 1.7 million doses, but has vaccinated just 2 035 people in the nine days since it started the rollout, the minister said.  The country has recorded just 30 000 coronavirus cases, resulting in 763 deaths.

COVAX, which is backed by the World Health Organisation, aims to deliver 600 million shots – most of them from AstraZeneca – to some 40 African countries this year. That would be enough to vaccinate 20% of their populations.
Sherwin Bryce-Pease talks to Thabani Maphosa on COVAX facility’s mission:

The situation in Congo illustrates the challenges many African countries face rolling out such large-scale vaccination campaigns despite their experience battling deadly infectious diseases.

Some health authorities do not have sufficient personnel and training to distribute vaccines at short notice and lack vital equipment because of funding shortfalls that could total billions of dollars, according to experts.

Share article
Tags: The Democratic Republic of Congo.COVID-19COVID-19 vaccine
Previous Post

State capture revelations testament to Africa’s serious leadership challenges: Mbeki

Next Post

KZN disaster management teams on high alert amid fears of localised flooding

Related Posts

Pope Francis greets people before his meeting with Roman Catholic bishops at CENCO (National Episcopal Conference of Congo), during his apostolic journey, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo February 3, 2023

Pope wraps up Congo visit, heads to volatile South Sudan

3 February 2023, 12:36 PM
Zimbabwean flag

Helping Zimbabwean permit holders not a political ploy: Ambassador

2 February 2023, 7:13 PM
File: An overview of the Niger delta where signs of oil spills can be seen in the water in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Nigerian communities file damages claim against Shell

2 February 2023, 6:09 PM
A Zimbabwean Permit from Home Affairs.

Zimbabwean embassy in SA to launch bid for the return of Zimbabwean Exemption Permit holders

2 February 2023, 10:40 AM
The Central Bank of Lesotho

Lesotho Central Bank raises interest rates by 25 basis points

1 February 2023, 3:05 PM
Priests gather at Ndolo Airport for a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, February 1, 2023.

Pope Francis to celebrate Mass in Congo

1 February 2023, 10:00 AM
Next Post
File photo: A person holding an umbrella walks on the street on a rainy day.

KZN disaster management teams on high alert amid fears of localised flooding

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • King of Bacardi music ‘Vusi Ma R5’ killed in Soshanguve
  • Committee wants to halt planned demolition of North West hospital
  • Shock over proposed SA sponsorship of Tottenham Hotspur
  • Malema threatens nationwide shutdown over power crisis, demands Ramaphosa resign
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • VIDEO | St Benedict College’s Matric learner gets 11 distinctions
  • Limpopo matriculant from child-headed household attains diploma pass
  • Female circumcision practice thriving in Eastern Cape
  • Three SA Tourism board members resign
  • Pirates, Sundowns clash headline weekend PSL fixtures
  • SA citizens will be wasting time listening to SONA: Dawie Roodt
  • Authorities out to bring to book perpetrators in Geluksdal Secondary School murder
  • Julius Malema’s firearm trial postponed

LATEST

A resident walks in a flooded area.
  • South Africa

Families in Matatiele left destitute following devastating storm


A picture of jailbars at a police station
  • South Africa

‘Gordonia Butcher’ gets 18 years for attempted murder of sister


  • Politics

VIDEO | EFF leader addresses the Gauteng Provincial Plenum


Inside of a prison
  • South Africa

Northern Cape man slapped with three life sentences for raping minors


The word 'cancer' highlighted through a magnifying glass
  • Sci-tech

‘Early detection can significantly reduce impact and cost of cancer’


A person holding a gun.
  • South Africa

Hostage drama at Gauteng school leads to a fatality


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous State capture revelations testament to Africa’s serious leadership challenges: Mbeki
Next KZN disaster management teams on high alert amid fears of localised flooding