South Sudan receives 152,200 doses of Johnson & Johnson


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South Sudan receives 152,200 doses of Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine doses arrive at Juba International Airport, South Sudan, on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 (photo credit: Sheila Ponnie/City Review)

The Ministry of Health has received a donation of 151,200 doses of the Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 vaccine from the United States government yesterday.

Addressing the press at Juba International Airport, Minister of Health, Elizabeth Achuei, urged those who have already received the dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine not to take the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

“Stick to one vaccine, if you have started with AstraZeneca stick to it and if it is Johnson and Johnson stick to it,” she said.

Achuei said people should always seek correct information from the Ministry of Health instead of getting wrong information concerning vaccines.

She hailed the United States government for the vaccine donation saying it will scale up the already ongoing COVID-19 vaccination program to stop the spread of the virus.

Deng Dau Malek, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs encouraged the citizens to take advantage and adhere to the directives of the two different vaccines.

 “We encourage the youth to take the vaccine because it would help them in terms of travel to other countries and you would be required to produce your certificate of vaccination so take this as a chance and try to use this particular opportunity,” Deng.

Jesper Moller, the Deputy Representative of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) said the Johnson and Johnson vaccine shipment to South Sudan will contribute to the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Moller said the vaccine protects the health and the wellbeing of the people by ensuring no one becomes critically ill upon infection.

“It requires only one dose and it is easy to be transported and it will protect over 150,000 more people in South Sudan,” Moller said.

Dr. Fabian Ndenzako, the World Health Organization Country Director to South Sudan said the provision of the vaccines to South Sudan will contribute to the equitable access of the vaccines and the fight against COVID-19.

“Johnson and Johnson are very effective and it is just a single-dose vaccine, a person is required to just take one shot,” he said.

He urged the public to help in stopping the spread of the disease in the country by adhering to the public emphasis of social distancing when in public and wearing masks.

The arrival of the extra doses comes just days after another 59,520 doses of AstraZeneza arrived in Juba last month.

The vaccines which were donated by the French government were distributed to various facilities ahead of the intensive inoculation campaign before their expiry.

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