The U.S. government donated more than 336,000 additional doses of the Johnson&Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to Madagascar on Monday, December 6th. These vaccine doses are part of the Biden Administration’s global effort to end the COVID-19 pandemic, mitigate its devastating social and economic impacts, and build back a world that is better prepared for future outbreaks.
The United States is the largest donor of COVID-19 vaccines to Madagascar and the largest donor to COVAX worldwide. With the arrival of these additional Johnson&Johnson doses at Ivato Airport late in the evening of December 6, the United States has provided nearly one million doses of the single-shot Johnson&Johnson vaccine to Madagascar. Prior Johnson&Johnson shipments arrived in October and July, 2021. These new doses also follow the November 25 arrival of 398,970 Pfizer vaccines and complement the U.S. government’s role as the largest single country donor to COVAX.
“I urge everyone to take advantage of these vaccines,” U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Amy Hyatt said during a December 7 visit to a vaccinodrome at the HJRA hospital in Antananarivo. “Go to your local health center. Ask how you can get vaccinated against COVID-19, because widespread vaccination is the most important step we can all take to ensure a return to normal life as soon as possible,” she added.
The U.S. government is providing support to Madagascar’s vaccination sites through the USAID ACCESS and IMPACT programs. People can get vaccinated against COVID-19 at hundreds of locations across the country. Vaccines are being administered at centres de santé de base (CSBs), hospitals, dedicated vaccinodromes, and mobile vaccine clinics. Examples of vaccination locations in some major cities include:
- Antananarivo – CHUJRB Befelatanana and CHUJRA Anosy
- Antsiranana1 – CSBU Tanambao
- Fianarantsoa – CSB2 Antsorokavo and CSB2 Du Zoma
- Mahajanga 1 – HopitalMahabibo
- Toamasina 1 – CHUM Toamasina and CSB Urbain
- Toliara 1 – CSBs Tsimenatse
For a complete list of COVID-19 vaccination sites, visit https://www.usaid.gov/madagascar/documents/covid19-vaccination-what-you-need-know
In Madagascar, the United States has worked closely with the government, like “mpirahalahy mianala,” to protect public health. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), on behalf of the American people, has provided $5.1 million to accelerate widespread equitable access to COVID vaccinations and prevent and respond to COVID cases; $2.5 million in emergency funding that expanded infectious disease testing, provided personal protective equipment for front-line Malagasy health workers; and contributed $5 million to the Tosika Fameno cash transfer program to ensure vulnerable families in the most affected cities had enough to eat. The Peace Corps is also supporting the Government of Madagascar’s vaccination efforts in Mantasoa.
The United States will continue to do all it can to build a world that is safer and more secure against the threat of infectious disease.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Madagascar & Comoros.
Source: Apo-Opa
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