South Sudan’s Capital Runs Out of COVID-19 Vaccine

By Simon Deng

South Sudan’s capital is running out of COVID-19 vaccines, as the expiry date for the shots loom.

The vaccines currently being given in the country are set to expire by July 18.

Officials have however said there should be no cause for alarm since an order has been placed for more doses.

The available Covid-19 Vaccines will finished by July 18 and there is no cause for alarm as a span of three weeks appear normal for the next vaccination, said Angelo Goup, the Manager for the COVID-19 Emergency Operation Centre in the capital Juba.

“About vaccines availability at the moment, we have remained with very few doses,” Angelo Guop, the Manager for the COVID-19 Emergency Operation Center in Juba told reporters on Sunday.

“We have remained with 1820 doses. These doses are now available in three main hospitals including Juba Teaching Hospital, Juba Military Hospital and Juba Police Hospital,” he said.

“They were evacuated back to Juba from other locations where there is low intake of vaccines.”

South Sudan received 132,000 shots of the Astrazeneca under the COVAX facility. A few months later, it gave away 60,000 to Kenya for fear of expiry before use.

Another 60,000 donated by the African Union expired on arrival and is yet to be disposed of.

Guop however expressed optimism the shortage won’t be for long.

“For those who are supposed to take second doses, we have 3 weeks, you can take your next dose a week earlier or two weeks late, it does no harm,” he said.

Guyo Gurasha, the World Health Organization Emergency Program Officer in South Sudan warned of continuous rise of COVID-19 globally and urged for collective efforts in the African nation towards the pandemic.