USA donates over 5m doses of Pfizer to South Africa

The US Embassy in South Africa made the announcement on Wednesday. 

The donation of the Covid-19 vaccine is part of efforts by the administration of US President Joe Biden to fight the pandemic.

"This donation will help protect South Africans from the ravages of the COVID-19 virus and will support continuing efforts to build back the South African economy,” U.S. Mission's Todd Haskell says.

"Over the years, through programs such as PEPFAR, the United States and South Africa have built one of the strongest bilateral health partnerships in the world, which is why our countries have been able to successfully work hand-in-hand since the very beginning of the pandemic to protect the health and safety of our citizens."

The North American state also donated over 4 million doses of Moderna vaccines to Nigeria. 

"This gift from the people of the United States, the largest bilateral vaccine donation to date will be enough to fully vaccinate more than two and a half million South Africans," adds Haskell. 

"President Biden has pledged to donate 500 million vaccine doses globally, including by sharing doses with Africa through COVAX and in coordination with Africa CDC and the African Union." 

The vaccine will arrive at OR Tambo at the end of this month

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