US plans to donate 17 million doses of J&J Covid vaccine to African Union

He spoke on Thursday when he hosted President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Oval in the White House.

In Summary

•He spoke on Thursday when he hosted President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Oval in the White House.

US President Joe Biden meets with his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on October 14, 2021. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)
US President Joe Biden meets with his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on October 14, 2021. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)

President Joe Biden has announced that the US will donate more than 17 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine to the African Union.

He spoke on Thursday when he hosted President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Oval in the White House.

So far, the United States has donated close to 3 million Coronavirus vaccine doses to Kenya.

On September 17, Kenya received its first batch of Pfizer vaccines donated by the US.

The consignment of 795,600 doses arrived at JKIA onboard a DHL Cargo Aircraft, delivered by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

The consignment was received by Health PS Susan Mochache, Foreign CAS Ababu Namwamba, and the US Embassy in Kenya Chargé d’Affaires Eric Kneedler.

This is part of the 2.03 million doses donations by the US government as part of efforts to boost Covid-19 vaccination in the country.

To complement the vaccine donation, the United States, through USAID and the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, has invested Sh495 million to support the vaccine rollout in Kenya through projects aimed at increasing demand for vaccines, health worker training, project monitoring, strengthening the supply chain and cold storage capacity, and monitoring adverse effects.

"President Biden recently announced the United States has committed to providing an additional half-billion Pfizer doses to low-and middle-income countries around the world," U.S. Embassy Health Attaché, Dr Douglas Shaffer said.

"The doses that have already arrived in Kenya and those that are coming will save lives. We continue to encourage Kenyans to get vaccinated to protect yourself, your families, and your communities.”

Biden has also committed to address climate change for safe future by fully implementing the Paris Agreement.


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