African countries, Argentina, to receive first U.S. donated COVID-19 vaccines in days

African countries to receive first U.S. donated COVID-19 vaccines in days - Gavi Nearly 50 African countries are to receive 25 million COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by the United States, with the first shipments to Burkina Faso, Djibouti and Ethiopia in coming days, U.S. officials and the Gavi vaccine alliance said on Friday. Stephanie Nebehay Reuters

GENEVA, July 16 (Reuters) - Nearly 50 African countries are to receive 25 million COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by the United States, with the first shipments to Burkina Faso, Djibouti and Ethiopia in coming days, U.S. officials and the Gavi vaccine alliance said on Friday.

U.S. President Joe Biden has pledged to share 80 million U.S.-made vaccines with countries around the world to protect the most vulnerable and stem transmission of the coronavirus.

"In partnership with the African Union and COVAX, the United States is proud to donate 25 million COVID-19 vaccines to 49 African countries. The Biden Administration is committed to leading the global response to the pandemic by providing safe and effective vaccines to the world,” Gayle Smith, the U.S. State Department's coordinator for COVID-19 recovery and global health, said in the statement.

Nearly a million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) vaccine will be delivered to Burkina Faso, Djibouti and Ethiopia in coming days, the statement said.

The remainder will be shipped in coming weeks, it added.

Africa recorded a 43% jump in COVID-19 deaths last week as infections and hospital admissions have risen and countries face shortages of oxygen and intensive-care beds, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday. read more  ...

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