Accra, Ghana – More than 1.7 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Ghana today, bringing the total of U.S. donated vaccines to Ghana to more than 4.2 million doses since September. U.S. Ambassador Stephanie Sullivan was joined by Deputy Minister of Health Mahama Asei Seini, representatives of the Ghana Health Service, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong, and the UNICEF Country Representative to Ghana Ms. Anne-Claire Dufay, to receive the vaccines at Accra’s Kotoka International Airport.
“These life-saving vaccines, donated on behalf of the American people, will help save Ghanaian lives, as we work together to defeat this virus. These doses are the same safe and effective vaccines used in the United States. There is no better time for Ghanaians to protect their families and communities by getting the jab,” said Ambassador Sullivan.
Delivered through COVAX, the donations are part of the United States’ global efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. In September, President Biden committed to donating 1.1 billion doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine worldwide. The United States Government has already delivered 252 million doses to over 100 countries, including 71 million doses in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. With President Biden’s commitment, the American people are now donating three vaccine doses for every dose that has been administered in the United States.
The United States has strongly supported Ghana’s COVID-19 response efforts, providing more than $30 million for personal protective equipment and training for medical professionals, medical equipment and testing supplies, vaccine distribution planning and support, economic assistance for impacted communities, three new regional Public Health Emergency Operations Centers in Ghana, as well as educational support for Ghanaian students during the pandemic.
This whole of government approach has included elements of the Department of State, Department of Defense, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
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Remarks by U.S. Ambassador Stephanie Sullivan
Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Donation
November 22, 2021
-As Delivered-Good afternoon!
I’m so pleased to be here to receive the next shipment of U.S. donated COVID-19 vaccines. Today, Ghana is receiving 1.7 million (1,736,280) doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
The United States has now donated more than 4.2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to help save Ghanaian lives and beat this pandemic.
President Biden has committed to donating 1.1 billion vaccine doses worldwide, more than any other country. And we are well on our way: 250 million doses have been delivered so far to more than 100 countries, including 71 million doses here in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Later this week, Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving, a time when we gather to remember what we’re thankful for. After all we’ve been through in the last 20 months, I am so thankful to be sharing these vaccines with our Ghanaian friends – the same safe and effective doses given to Americans. We can all be thankful today for the cutting-edge science and innovation that is giving us the tools to stop this deadly pandemic.
We don’t do this work alone. We work closely with UNICEF, which is the engine behind COVAX, the Ministry of Health, and the Ghana Health Service to transport these vaccines quickly and efficiently and ensure that they are used for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
Now it’s up to Ghanaians to get their jabs. We were all happy to see the news over the weekend that the Ghana Health Service has approved the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 15 and above. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine can be the first step in building back a better world, one which prioritizes public health and economic prosperity, and shares the fruits of scientific innovation.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Source: The US Embassy
