Botswana’s Covid-19 vaccine delivery projections from the Covax facility have been slashed.
According to a previous list of countries due to receive vaccines via Covax facility in the first quarter of this year, Botswana was to receive at least 117 600 doses but will only receive 100,800.
Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access, abbreviated COVAX, is a global initiative aimed at equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and others.
Responding to Sunday Standard queries, Gavi said: “The primary reason for this is the difference in timelines for the two documents – the indicative distribution included anticipated supply through end of June 2021, the final first round allocation included anticipated supply through end of May 2021.”
Gavi said: “A smaller part of this difference is due to estimates on supply for this period being revised slightly downwards due to anticipated delays in receipt of volumes. This is normal, as in a highly dynamic supply environment, information on availability of supply and projected timelines will be constantly shifting. COVAX will be regularly updating its forecast
Sunday Standard also sought to establish, among others, when Botswana and other countries in southern Africa should expect to receive such vaccines.
Gavi stated: “In order for doses to be delivered to Facility participants via this first allocation round, several critical pieces must be in place, including confirmation of national regulatory authorisation criteria related to the vaccines delivered, indemnification agreements (for all participants with the respective manufacturers), national vaccination plans from AMC participants, as well as other logistical factors such as export and import licenses.”
Gavi further indicated: “We are in close touch with each of the COVAX participating economies in relation to the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines. As each economy finalises readiness preparations, COVAX issues purchase orders to the manufacturers and ships and delivers doses via an iterative process. This means, as of last week, deliveries for this first round of allocation are taking place daily, on a rolling basis and in tranches.
The organisation also revealed that “The first round of allocations has been communicated to the relevant governments who are working closely with COVAX partners and vaccine manufacturers on the specific dates for deliveries.”
For his part, Botswana Government spokesperson Andrew Sesinyi said Botswana has been promised a delivery during the first quarter of 2021.
“We are unable to say when other countries in the region will receive,” he said.
On the revised and reduced figure expected to be received by Botswana, Sesinyi said: “COVAX makes a promise on the estimated number of doses that will be given to a country. However, as they get closer to shipping, that is when they confirm the exact number of doses that they will ship. That is what happened in relation to Botswana.”
