In May, the African Union Union’s Medical and Health Services Directorate and Africa CDC began the roll out of #COVID19 vaccines to AU staff members.

The Astra Zeneca vaccines were availed by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia as part of the COVAX facility consignment and are being administered according to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health priority list.

In the first phase of the vaccination exercise priority has been given to medical and other frontline workers as well AUC employees above 55 years of age, their spouses, and staff members of member states and their spouses.

While kicking off the vaccination programme, H.E. Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted almost every corner of life, causing global economies to stall, changing the way people work and interact with loved ones, and stretching healthcare systems to their limits. Governments around the world have been forced to implement harsh restrictions on human activity to curb the spread of the virus.

“We have been following all preventive measures as advised by public health experts like wearing of masks, frequent washing of hands and physical distancing and still we are not there”, said the Deputy Chairperson, as she called on everyone to continue practicing public health and social measures.

The full Speech is available @ https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20210507/dr-monique-nsanzabaganwa-speech-covid-19-roll-out-campaign