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South Sudan’s Health Ministry says it has requested five million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine as the country continues to witness an increase in coronavirus cases.
The ministry has already submitted an application to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi), an international organization that is trying to improve access to immunization in poor countries.
Authorities hope to implement the administration of the vaccine as soon as it arrives in the country, which they hope will be later this month.
“For health workers we are requesting 27,000, for the elderly population, 2,960,380, people with highlighted factors such as diabetes 220,120 doses, people living with HIV / AIDS, 190,000, Internally displaced 405,000, school teachers 46,000 and population economically active – who are 25 and 40 years old, we have requested 2,281,147 doses from them, ”Dr. John Rumunu Pasquale, Director General of Preventive Health Services of the National Health Ministry, told reporters in the capital, Juba.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that South Sudan will witness an increase in Covid-19 cases during the second wave.
“In Africa, there are 10 countries that contribute 90% of positive Covid-19 cases. Among them are three neighboring countries of South Sudan: Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia. Therefore, we are expected to see an increase in cases in South Sudan due to travel and trade between these neighboring countries that are contributing to the huge number of cases and South Sudan, ”said Dr. Guracha Argata Guyo, Representative Acting Country Office of the WHO in South Sudan.
