Health Ministry Experiences COVID-19 Vaccine Delay

The ministry through a media release stated that it was expecting the AstraZeneca vaccine consignment procured through the COVAX facility, by the last week of June 2021. It further stated that owing to high global demand for COVID-19 vaccines, which have now outstripped supply, the supplier has so far not been able to deliver in the timelines expected.

"The ministry has been informed that the expected delivery is now likely to take place in August 2021. As a result of this development, some vaccination centres inoculating the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine across the country, have started experiencing shortages. The shortfall in the AstraZeneca vaccine is about 15,000 doses, resulting in people of the same number likely to get their second doses beyond the initially anticipated 12 weeks," reads the media release.