The controversy surrounding the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines through the COVAX has escalated with Botswana Government and the facility sending conflicting messages.
Through its Twitter handle and Facebook Page, the Botswana Government announced that Vice President Slumber Tsogwane had received 33 600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine procured by Botswana through the COVAX facility.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa stated in a recent press release that 24000 doses were from SKBioscience in South Korea.
This was the first shipment of 100 000 vaccines purchased by the Government of Botswana, enabled through the COVAX Facility- a figure that is less than the revised projections.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which is one of the organisations that is spearheading the equitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccine across the world had earlier on confirmed to The Telegraph that Botswana’s deliveries of Covid-19 vaccines projections from the COVAX Facility had been revised and slashed from the initial 117,800 to 100, 800.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Kabelo Ebineng stated later during a live broadcast that his Ministry was expecting 33 600 doses delivery from COVAX facility adding that there was a shortfall. He also added that they were in talks with those who had sold the vaccine to Botswana to establish what could have happened.
During the same live broadcast, the Director of Health Services Malebogo Kebabone also corroborated Ebineng’s version that Botswana was rolling out at least 30 000 doses of AstraZeneca across the country.
But on their websites, Gavi, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF which are coordinating the COVAX facility indicated that Botswana received 24000 doses of AstraZeneca from the facility.
In an emailed response to The Telegraph queries, a Gavi spokesperson told this publication: “The number of doses delivered to Botswana was indeed 24,000.” She also referred this publication to a UNICEF website dashboard (delivery to Botswana) which also indicated that Botswana was expected to receive 24 000 doses of AstraZeneca.
The Gavi spokesperson said: “In this early phase of Covid-19 vaccine roll-out, vaccine manufacturers require time to scale and optimize their production process. AstraZeneca, which uses a novel supply chain network with sites across multiple continents, is working to ramp up its deliveries in the coming weeks.”
COVAX aims to supply the total quantity of allocated doses through to May as previously communicated to the government of Botswana, pending operational and supply constraints.
Gavi said: “Covax will continue to update the government as more information becomes available on future shipments.”
The delivery of 24000 doses of the AstraZeneca South Korea Covid-19 vaccine was also confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in a previous statement.
According to WHO Regional Office for Africa, “Obtained from SKBioscience in South Korea, it is the first shipment of 100 000 vaccines purchased by the Government of Botswana, enabled through the COVAX Facility.”
Responding to questions from The Telegraph, Ebineng stated that on Saturday the 27th March 2021, the government received its first consignment of its first allocation of 100 800 doses of the vaccine procured from the COVAX Facility, and supplied out of South Korea. He said this first consignment is the one, which had been expected on the 22nd March 2021, with a batch of 33 600 or 1\3 of the 100 800 doses.
Ebineng said the second batch of 67200 doses or 2/3 of the 100 800 doses had set a delivery date of 22 April 2021, per advice given to the Botswana Government at the beginning of March 2021 by the suppliers.
“When receiving the goods on the 27th March 2021, in line with expectations, plus what had been procured, paid for and confirmed for delivery, the government announced that the first consignment, which by definition and invoicing had 33 600 doses had been received. On undertaking subsequent validation and checks at the Central Medical Stores, the number was found to be 24 000 doses instead,” he said.
Since then, Ebineng said, the government in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, who manage the logistics of procurement and delivery to Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, have engaged with both the COVAX Facility and GAVI to understand the disparity and obtain appropriate explanations.
“To date, it has been confirmed to each of the Botswana Government, the Who and UNICEF, by the COVAX Facility/GAVI that: the 24 000 doses received is what, in fact, was dispatched to Botswana. It has further been confirmed that Botswana will receive the remaining balance of 9 600 doses relating to the first consignment,” said Ebineng.
He said in the consultations which are ongoing, the suppliers have confirmed that they will correct, but are yet to confirm when delivery will, actually happen.
“Word is also awaited regarding the exact date of receiving the second consignment (67 200) of the initial 100 800 doses allocation. As part of the consultations, the issues of reliability of supply and all the attendant matters of dates of delivery are being addressed. We will give further updates to the public once more information is at hand,” said Ebineng. Immediate comment from WHO Africa Regional Office was not available.
