More than 409,500 additional doses of the safe and effective Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Madagascar last night through the COVAX initiative. Purchased and donated by the U.S. government, these vaccines are part of the Biden Administration’s global effort to rapidly increase vaccine coverage and end this pandemic.

"While COVID has been a tough adversary, we’ve shown that we’re tougher – tougher because we have the power of science and vaccines that prevent illness and save lives," President Biden said in a December 21 speech.

To date, the United States has sharedmore than 350 million COVID-19 vaccine doses globallyand remains the largest donor of COVID-19 vaccines to Madagascar specifically, having donated more than 1.78 million doses includingsome 336,000 Johnson&Johnson doseson December 6;about 400,000 Pfizer doseson November 25;336,000 Johnson&Johnson doseson October 25; and302,750 Johnson&Johnson doseson July 27.

The U.S. government is working alongside the Government of Madagascar to ensure these vaccines are utilized and communities have the support and resources to save lives now. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supports Madagascar’s COVID-19 response by assisting with infection prevention and control, disease surveillance, supply chain management, public awareness, and vaccinations through the USAID ACCESS and IMPACT programs. People can get vaccinated against COVID-19 at hundreds of locations across the country includingCentresde Santéde Base(CSBs), hospitals, dedicatedvaccinodromes, and mobile vaccine clinics.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, health professionals are administering the Pfizer vaccines at 13 vaccination sites in Antananarivo, including:

HJRA Ampefiloha HJRB Befelatanana Barea Stadium Green Stadium Analamahitsy UN vaccinodrome in Andraharo University of Ankatso CSBs Andoharanofotsy CSBs Tanjombato CSBs Ankaraobato CSBs Anosizato CSBs Cité Itaosy Itaosy Hopitaly CSBs Talata Volonondry

For more vaccination sites, visitUSAID’s websiteto download a Malagasy-language guide to COVID-19 vaccines.

The U.S. government will continue to work closely with the Government of Madagascar, like "mpirahalahy mianala," to protect public health and build a world that is safer and more secure against the threat of infectious disease.


Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Madagascar & Comoros.

© African Press Organization, source Press Releases