Liberia: U.S. donates additional 168,000 Doses of J&J Vaccine

The Embassy of the United States in Liberia announced the arrival of 168,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in Liberia through COVAX.

“We are sharing these doses safely, equitably, and with no strings attached. We are doing this with the singular objective of saving lives,” the statement from the U.S. Embassy here said.

This batch brings the number of doses of the J&J vaccine provided to Liberia from the United States to 470,400 (the first arrived on July 25, 2021). The donation, which arrived at Roberts International Airport, via COVAX on October 23, along with the previous donation make up the largest by a single country to Liberia to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deputy Chief of Mission Joel Maybury joined Minister of Health Wilhelmina Jallah and UNICEF Country Director Laila Gad at Harvest Intercontinental Cathedral in Monrovia on Sunday to welcome the donation and join a vaccine drive.

DCM Maybury, quoted as expressing full confidence in the vaccines stated: “These vaccines are safe and effective. We are approaching 7 billion total vaccine shots given across 184 countries.” And he urged Liberians not to wait to get vaccinated, “My last message to you is to don’t wait. Protect yourself now so you are prepared just in case another wave hits Liberia. These vaccines are safe, effective, available, and free. It just takes a moment, and it offers a path back to normalcy.”

“Safe and effective vaccines are our best tool to end the pandemic, and the United States has committed to providing 1.1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses worldwide,” U.S. Embassy said.

 To date, the United States has delivered more than 205 million doses of vaccine to more than 100 countries. The commitment to provide COVID-19 vaccine doses to 92 Gavi Advance Market Commitment economies and African Union Member States will continue to fulfill U.S. President Biden’s commitment to strengthen the fight against the global pandemic.

President Biden has said: “the United States is committed to bringing the same urgency to international vaccination efforts that we have demonstrated at home. We are sharing these vaccines to save lives and to lead the world in bringing an end to the pandemic. We look forward to continued coordination with the African Union and Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to deliver these doses across the continent through the COVAX initiative via their established logistical channels.”https://thenewdawnliberia.com/liberia-second-batch-of-johnson-johnson-vaccines-arrive-today/