Ghana is set to receive doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX).
Ghana is among eight other African Countries to receive the UK-donated vaccines from Gavi.
The statement from Vaccine Alliance noted that the shipment of the UK-donated doses is part of a broader pledge to share 100 million jabs with the rest of the world, of which 80 percent will be through COVAX.
The UK has already donated approximately 5 million vaccine doses to COVAX and the total number of doses being sent to African countries is about 3 million. As part of their vaccine donation, UK is also covering the costs of syringes, safety boxes, air freight and other ancillary costs.
It comes after a 548 million pounds UK funding to the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment to help COVAX procure doses for 92 lower-income economies. The UK was also instrumental in highlighting the agenda on access to vaccines and agreeing to major dose-sharing commitments with its G7 partners at the G7 Summit.
This is the first batch of 80 million being donated via COVAX.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said the five million doses donated to COVAX are part of the pledge to contribute 100 million vaccines within the next year to help accelerate global access.
The CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Dr. Seth Berkley said UK has been one of global vaccination’s strongest advocates and an early supporter of COVAX.