The Ministry of Health is preparing to receive the first batch of about 9 million doses of COVID 19 vaccine from the period of late February to April 2021. The government on its end is keen to vaccinate at least 20 percent of its population until the end of this year, 2021.
The country will receive the vaccine made by AstraZeneca PLC – a British–Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Company with its headquarters in Cambridge, England. The exact figure of the vaccine is 8,928,000 doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine (AZ/SII vaccine).
For AZ/SII indicative distribution, delivery is estimated to begin as of late February, subject to WHO Emergency Use Listing Procedure /EUL/, manufacturing supply capacity and completion of pre-requisites, as outlined in the related caveats section. This is in line with the Facility targets to reach at least 3% population coverage in all countries in the first half of the year, enough to protect the most vulnerable groups such as health care workers.
In Ethiopia the vaccination roll out plan is set to be similar to that of other countries roll out initiative. The front runners set to receive the jab are: Health workers and elders more than 65 years. Ethiopia is meticulously planning to vaccinate 20 percent of its population against the COVID-19 pandemic by the end of 2021 as explained by the country’s top health expert.
On matters financing, the financial sources are set to include local and international donors, multilateral agencies, and the private sector that are merging their efforts alongside the government to combat the pandemic at its tracks.
Ethiopia has so far reported 139,408 infections with 2,122 deaths. Over the recent times number of new cases seems to be rising which is of great concern to the country in terms of dishing out the vaccine on time.
Furthermore, the Government in its efforts to rally out the pandemic is actively engaged in a unique global alliance representing more than two-thirds of the world. The alliance includes the World Health Organization (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), the Gates Foundation, and 191 countries to raise financial support for accelerated research and development, production, and globally-equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Ethiopia is also part of COVAX AMC, a grouping of 92 low and middle income countries, seeking financial assistance to procure COVID-19 vaccines, accessories and help in delivery.