59,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine expire in South Sudan before use

Covid-19 vaccine donated to South Sudan by African Union has expired before being used, the Health Ministry has confirmed.

The AU in partnership with MTN donated 59,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to South Sudan.South Sudan’s Health Ministry says the Covid-19 vaccines expired on April 13.

South Sudan received 132,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX facility on Thursday, 25^thMarch 2021.

It also received another over 59,000 doses from African Union, Africa CDC and MTN on Monday, 29^th March 2021 bringing the total vaccine in the country to over 190,000.

The country’s health ministry says it’s the COVID-19 vaccines from the Africa CDC which is expired.

The manager for extended program on immunisation at the Health Ministry, George Auzanio Legge said the ministry will dispose off the expired medicines.

“Yes, I can confirm to you that the vaccines expired and as a result we shall not use them, as you know something expired cannot be used but our campaign for vaccination is ongoing with the other medicines that are ok.” Said George

The vaccination against Covid-19 was launched in Juba on April 6th.

The National Ministry of Health says about 947 health workers have received the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine since the vaccination program was officially launched.