This archive report was first published on 14 July 2021.
South Sudan is on the brink of a severe Covid-19 vaccine shortage, with a dwindling supply of AstraZeneca doses. According to health authorities, only 1,820 doses remain, a stark contrast to the 72,000 doses returned to the global vaccine initiative Covax just two months ago.
Angelo Guop, the Ministry of Health's Covid-19 Chief of Operations, revealed that the remaining doses are currently being stored in three main hospitals: Juba Teaching Hospital, Juba Military Hospital, and Juba Police Hospital. He warned that these doses are likely to be exhausted by July 18.
South Sudan received 132,000 doses of the vaccine in March this year, courtesy of Covax. However, due to low intake, the country initiated a return of some doses in May, sparking a controversy over the vaccine giveaway. Kenya had expressed interest in receiving the returned consignment of 72,000 AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines.
As of July 10, South Sudan has recorded 10,674 coronavirus cases, 117 deaths, and 10,257 recoveries. The World Health Organization has urged the country to ensure at least 10 percent of its population is vaccinated against coronavirus by September 2021.
