Samoa receives over 40,000 Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines from the USA
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45,630 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine were handed over to Samoa on Sunday from the USA through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to combat COVID -19.
According to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Apia this latest delivery was made through the COVAX Facility.
The USA is the largest donor to COVAX, having donated $4 billion to help protect the most vulnerable and at-risk populations in 92 low- and middle-income countries.
UNICEF Dr. Akshaya Mishra, U.S. Embassy Apia Charge d' Affaires Jonathan Lee Yoo, Deputy Director of Health, Dr. Robert Thomsen and EPI Coordinator RN Teuila Pati clearing the Pfizer vaccines from Customs.
Photo: US Embassy in Samoa
US Ambassador to Samoa Tom Udall said in the statement that the US is committed to providing 1.2 billion doses of safe, effective vaccines to meet global needs.
"That extraordinary number of doses is protecting individuals, families, and villages here in the South Pacific and around the world," Ambassador Udall said.
Loading vaccines for transportation to the Ministry of Health
Photo: US Embassy in Samoa
The U.S. government, through USAID, has provided more than $52 million to bolster the capacity of 12 Pacific Islands countries, including Samoa, against the COVID-19 pandemic, and has donated vaccines to 115 countries.
Chargé d'Affaires Jonathan Lee Yoo said that these vaccines will help Samoa stay healthy, and they will save lives.
"This donation demonstrates the U.S. government's commitment to supporting Samoa's fight against COVID-19," Mr. Lee Yoo said.
Ministry of Health final check and clearance before transportation.
Photos: US Embassy in Apia
According to the statement the USAID has helped train healthcare workers, enhance contact tracing, bolster laboratory surveillance and critical care, improve public health communication, enhance vaccine rollouts, and support economic recovery efforts.
Last week the Government of Australia in partnership with the Government of Samoa and UNICEF gad delivered 40,950 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.