COVID-19: U.S. grants Côte d’Ivoire more than 2 million doses of Pfizer, a $16 million donation

The US Development agency USAID has donated to Côte d’Ivoire more than 2 million doses of Pfizer to help the West African country to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The US embassy in capital Abidjan said in a statement that the vaccines will support the efforts of authorities to vaccinate 52 per cent of the population, one of the highest rate of target in the region.

The mission added that the latest donation of vaccines will accelerate progress toward the goal of full immunization of people aged 12 years and older (19,971,080 people), or 70% of the Ivorian population.

In addition to the vaccines, the embassy also announced a $16 million donation to endorse the country’s efforts to expand and integrate COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization and primary health care.

The embassy stressed Washington’s resolve to continue to support the Ivorian government in the safe distribution of these vaccines, the training of health workers and the sensitization of the population to be vaccinated effectively.

The African country has until December 15 reported 81626 confirmed cases and 796 deaths related to the pandemic. 80,758 people have so far recovered. The latest doses bring total doses offered by the U.S to 12.1 million doses.