ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar -- 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 shared more than 350 million COVID-19 vaccine doses globally and remains the largest donor of COVID-19 vaccines to Madagascar specifically, having donated more than 1.78 million doses including some 336,000 Johnson&Johnson doses on December 6; about 400,000 Pfizer doses on November 25; 336,000 Johnson&Johnson doses on October 25; and 302,750 Johnson&Johnson doses on 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 including Centres de Santé de Base (CSBs), hospitals, dedicated vaccinodromes, 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, visit USAID's website to 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.

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