#COVID19: US Donates 303,050 Doses Of Johnson & Johnson Vaccines To Cameroon

The United States government has donated 303,050 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines to Cameroon. 

The consignment arrived in Cameroon on July 21, 2021 evening, according to the US Embassy in Yaounde.

“This donation to Cameroon is made possible by the United States Government as part of the U.S. government’s global efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic,” a statement issued Thursday, July 22, 2021 by the US Embassy revealed.

The single-dose vaccine confers immunity to those who take the jab and the US authorities in Yaounde estimate that the doses will provide immunity to over 300,000 Cameroonians. 

“Vaccines save lives. We are proud to help Cameroon, our friend and partner, with this donation,” said  Mary Daschbach, the interim Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Yaounde.

“Health of Cameroonians is one of the top priorities for U.S. foreign assistance in Cameroon. U.S. public health experts have worked hand-in-hand with Cameroonian officials since the start of the pandemic to protect public health and strengthen the response to COVID-19.”

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, U.S. Government agencies were said to have contributed over $21 million (close to CFA 12 billion) to help Cameroon combat the pandemic and its impact.

The U.S. contributions to COVAX, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), supports the purchase and delivery of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for the world’s most vulnerable and at-risk populations in 92 low and middle-income countries. 

This support is in addition to public health expertise provided through the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for global COVID-19 response efforts and is critical to controlling the pandemic, slowing the emergence of new variants, and helping to restart the global economy. 

According to Mary Daschbach, the 303,050 doses were part of her government’s commitment to share U.S. vaccine supplies with the world. 

The donated vaccines were part of the U.S. pledge to initially provide at least 25 million of 80 million doses globally to Africa. The U.S. government coordinated closely with the African Union, Africa CDC, and COVAX on the country allocations. 

“As we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic at home and work to end the pandemic worldwide, President Biden has promised that the United States will have an arsenal of vaccines for the world,” the statement by the US Embassy in Yaounde read.