The African Union (AU) through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) together with the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) are set to move a step further to reaching their target of vaccinating at least 60 percent of the population, as they continue to lead the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic on the African continent.

Through the AVAT, several African countries continue to receive vaccines from all over the world, as the fight against the pandemic continues.

"To-date, we have delivered 4.4 million doses out of four hundred million of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to 26 member states. A total of 12,000 doses were also delivered to the African Union Commission to vaccinate its staff members and the African Union ambassadors. These vaccines were procured by the Africa CDC”, said the Director of the Africa CDC, Dr. John Nkengasong, during a media briefing on the 23^rd of September.

While addressing the media from across the world, Dr. Nkengasong, commended India and other countries for their efforts in the fight against COVID-19.

"As you might have heard, the government of India will release and export vaccines come October. We welcome the good news because it will help us meet our target of vaccinating at least sixty percent of the African population by the end of next year."

He added that, "More donations continue to arrive on the continent. Norway has donated about 400,000 vaccines of AstraZeneca to Uganda, 124,000 to Zambia, and this brings the total that Norway has donated, to 726,000. Germany has also donated more than eight million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines."

For further information please contact:

Mrs Wynne Musabayana, Head of Communication. Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union,org

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission,   E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Website: www.au.africa I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube