Banjul - The Gambia has received another boost to its covid-19 vaccination campaign, having received 38,400 (thirty-eight thousand four hundred) doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, courtesy of the Government of France.

Representing the French Ambassador, the Honorary Consul of France in The Gambia, Hon. Charbel Elhajj, officially handed over the vaccines to the Hon. Minister for Health, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh.  He assured the Honourable Minister of the French Government’s commitment to supporting African countries including the Gambia in ensuring that COVID-19 vaccines  are available and accessible to the populations within COVAX facility framework

Receiving the vaccines on behalf of the Government of the Gambia, the Honorable Minister thanked the French Government for this laudable gesture and for the support it is rendering to other African countries to boost covid-19 vaccination in the African Region. 

He said that the arrival of the vaccines was timely as those who had their 1st dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and were waiting for their 2nd doses could now be vaccinated. He also lauded WHO for its leadership in mobilizing global action for the equitable and affordable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines .      

In conclusion, Dr. Samateh commended and hailed the frontline workers for their sacrifice, partners for their vaccine assistance which will significantly close the gap of achieving the country’s COVID-19 vaccination target. He reminded the public that “COVID-19 is still here with us” and urged people to come out and take the vaccine as the more vaccinated we are as a country, the more protected the population will be.

The WHO Country Representative, Dr. Desta Tiruneh, extended his gratitude to  the President of the Republic of the Gambia, H.E. Adama Barrow, and members of Cabinet for demonstrating strong leadership in championing the launching of the covid-19 vaccination campaign at State House in March 2021 where the President himself and some members of his cabinet, senior other government officials, the diplomatic corps and venerable religious leaders took the first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

He noted that these doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine received from France are within the framework of the global partnership and solidarity under the COVAX Facility.  This vaccine, according to Dr Desta, is among the six certified by the World Health Organization as safe and efficacious.

“Whilst we celebrate arrival of these lifesaving vaccines, we must not continue to observe the recommended public health measures regular handwashing , physical distancing, use of face masks and living in ventilated environments,” noted Dr. Tiruneh.  

He thanked the Ministry of Health through Hon. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh as well as UNICEF and all other partners for being together all along in this long and arduous journey in fighting covid-19.  The UNICEF Representative also re-echoed similar messages