Gambia applies for Covid vaccine

The Gambia has applied for coronavirus vaccine from the global COVAX effort aimed at helping lower-income countries obtain the shots. 

The Ministry of Health said its target is to vaccinate 70% of the population.

“Covid-19 is still a big challenge as it is costing devastation and we have learned so much about Covid because even in the developed country more people had died. We should strengthen strategies to be able to contain the disease,” Dr Ahmadou Samateh said. 

Dr. Bittaye, an official at the Health ministry, also said: “I think we are in the beginning of a second wave hence it starting to go up and if we act very fast and effectively, it will go down but it might continue to go up depending on how our response toward the virus.”

Africa should see the first Covid-19 vaccine doses in March from the global COVAX effort. 

The African Union which will oversee the distribution of the COVAX vaccine on Wednesday said 270 million doses have been secured from Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca via the Serum Institute of India.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba