Seychelles among first countries to benefit from US Pfizer donation |25 June 2021

Seychelles is to be among the first eight countries to receive the American-manufactured Pfizer vaccine from the United States of America (USA), it was confirmed by Public Health Commissioner Jude Gedeon yesterday.

According to Dr Gedeon, a total of 24,000 doses of the vaccine are expected to be delivered as early as August this year, following the announcement of American President Joe Biden that the US will purchase and donate 500 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to low and lower-middle income countries and economies as defined by Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation’s (Gavi) COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) and the African Union.

“USA has selected Seychelles to be among one of eight countries who will be first to receive the Pfizer vaccines because the country has demonstrated the ability to handle and roll-out vaccines. They are gearing towards countries who can make good use of the vaccines, so on that basis, we are considered a priority,” Dr Gedeon noted.

The donation of US-manufactured vaccines will be the largest ever purchase and donation of Covid-19 vaccines by a single country, with the first shipment of vaccines scheduled to start in August 2021. A total of 200 million doses are expected to be delivered this year.

Thus far, 68 percent of the population have completed both the first and second doses of vaccines against Covid-19, while 72 percent are yet to receive the second dose. Out of a population of 8737, 59 percent of the Praslin population have received both doses, while 61 percent have received the first dose only. As for La Digue, 64 percent of the total population have received their first dose, while 58 percent have completed both doses.

According to the chief executive of the Health Care Agency, Dr Danny Louange, the national immunisation campaign will see vaccination centres operational as of today, administering 25,000 doses of vaccines similar to Sinopharm, which the ministry received during the past couple of weeks. More centres will be added on Saturday, although Dr Louange highlighted that the ministry and centres will be better prepared by next week.

With regard to offers by individuals and business organisations to purchase and import vaccines, Dr Gedeon noted stringent processes in place, as well as international duties to which the ministry have to adhere.

“It must be noted that vaccines against Covid-19 are unlike the others in that it has been approved for emergency use by different governments. For the time being, Seychelles has signed an agreement under the United Nations (UN) towards ensuring that there is equitable access to vaccines. This is an undertaking of different countries to ensure that people who are most in need of vaccines are not exploited. Furthermore, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other organisations have warned countries about middle men when it comes to vaccine import, vaccine administration and vaccine handling. But we are still meeting with the private sector with regard to vaccines,” Dr Gedeon stated.

With regard to the efficacy of Sinopharm as compared to Covishield, Dr Gedeon said it is much too early to draw any conclusions as to which vaccine is more efficient among the population, although he said that a team of specialists are working to analyse vaccination and clinical data, to be compiled in a report that will be published in weeks to come, and to better inform public health response.

Laura Pillay