Moderna vaccines arrive this week
Over 49 000 vaccines expected on Thursday Consignment forms part of 500 000 paid for
Botswana will receive her first consignment of over 49 000 doses of Moderna vaccine bought from the United States- based pharmaceutical company any day this week, Botswana Guardian has established.
The consignment of 49 200 doses is expected to arrive in the country any day from Thursday. It forms part of the 500 000 doses that Botswana bought from Moderna and signed for in March 2021 at a cost of USD14.5 million. At the time of signing the contract, the initial idea was for the first consignment of 50 000 doses to be delivered in the third quarter of 2021, and then another 120 000 doses on the fourth and last quarter of 2021, and the remaining 340 000 doses were to be delivered during the first quarter of 2022.
However, sources within the government enclave have told this publication that Botswana has since negotiated to have the entire consignment coming during the last quarter of 2021. The deal was long done, but, instead the delay was just on the issues of supply and chain management, with the pharmaceutical company wanting to be assured of how the vaccines will be transported to Botswana, packaged, handled and how will they be administered to the populace.
“They have packed up the consignment. The initial agreement was that Botswana get 15 000 doses, but it has been increased to 50 000 doses”. However, at press time Botswana Guardian had established that the number has been slightly reduced to 49 200 doses.
The agreement was signed in March 2021. Normally these kinds of deals are initiated and or facilitated by the nearest Embassy or the Botswana embassy whose jurisdiction covers the area where the supply comes from, following a decision taken at government level.
In this case Botswana Embassy in Washington DC whose jurisdiction covers the origins of the company, started the discussions that later ushered in contract negotiations between government through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, as well as the Attorney General with the pharmaceutical company.
In an interview, a source within the government enclave confirmed that the country will receive 49, 200 doses of Moderna vaccine this week. Meanwhile, in one of the greatest initiatives since the vaccine campaign started, government this week came up with a pilot vaccine campaign project named Drive- Through aimed at assisting those eligible to receive their jabs as quickly as possible.
All that was needed was for one to register and be vaccinated, while seated in the comfort of one’s car. The pilot project which was only done in Gaborone was set for four days, but it took less as more people embraced the idea.