As part of renewed commitment towards ensuring a collaborative effort in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian government has offered the African continent 300 million doses of its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine which includes a financing package for member countries desiring to secure the jabs.
The Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team [AVATT] who made this known in a statement said that the Sputnik V vaccine would be available for 12 months starting May 2021.
AVATT is a support component of the Africa Vaccine Strategy team that was established by former African Union Chair, President Cyril Ramaphosa, and was endorsed by the AU Bureau of Heads of State and Government on 20th of August 2020.
Part of the statement reads: “We are grateful to receive the Sputnik V vaccines from the Russian Federation and tremendously proud to be able to offer them … for our AU Member States.
“Bilateral and private sector partnerships such as these are critical in our efforts to bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end,” John Nkengasong, director of the AU’s disease control body, was quoted as saying in the statement.
The AU previously said it had secured 270 million doses of vaccine from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson for delivery this year.
On Friday, the vaccine team said all 270 million doses had been “taken up by the first allocation phase deadline”.
