By way of the COVAX initiative, more than 1.7 million doses of COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccines touched down at Kinshasa’s N’djili International Airport on Tuesday
The vaccines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are part of the first wave of supplies that will continue over the next few weeks.
Medical authorities have decided to use the AstraZeneca vaccine because it meets the DRC’s existing storage conditions (between 2° and 8°C).
Received by Congolese Health Minister Eteni Longondo, their delivery is a historic step towards ensuring equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide and is part of the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history.
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A plan for the deployment of the COVID-19 vaccines across the country is being finalised.