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COVAX: Welcoming the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines worldwide

24 March 2021

Ana Manuela, a health technician, sits patiently as she receives the COVID-19 vaccine. — Caption: “One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, I haven’t caught the virus and now I am vaccinated, now I feel much safer," says Anna Manuela, a health technician in Cabo Verde.

Photo: © UNICEF

Deliveries of the COVAX-backed vaccines are arriving every day across the world. These deliveries symbolize a road to recovery. Those on the frontline of the pandemic share their excitement with us.

Benin

The UN Resident Coordinator, Salvator Niyonzima is thrilled about the arrival of more than 140,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the capital of Benin.

“This arrival was a clear result of the power of multilateralism and international cooperation.”

A grid of four images show the arrival of a plane that contains the COVAX-backed vaccines. Several UN and local authorities stand by awaiting the arrival. — Caption: An evening delivery of more than 140,000 doses of COVAX-backed vaccines.

Photo: © UN Benin

70,000 frontline health workers and the most vulnerable, such as people over the age of 60 and those with co-morbidities are at the top of the list for the vaccines right now.

To learn more about the response and recovery in Benin, visit https://benin.un.org/.

Cabo Verde

Early on the morning of 18 March, around 10:30 am, Cabo Verde began a vaccination campaign against COVID-19. Beginning with medical professionals who are on the frontlines. The first person that was vaccinated was a nurse named Helga Fontes, with a lot of emotion she stated:

“It is an honour for me to be the first patient to receive the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19. I urge everyone to participate in the vaccination campaign because the vaccine is life.”

Helga Fontes, 63 years old, is an experienced nurse who works at a health centre located in the most populous area of the nation’s capital, asks her patients to analyze the risks and benefits of this vaccine and then make the right decision. “The vaccine has more benefits than risk,’ she says.

Nurse, Helga Fontes, rolls up her sleeve as a healthcare worker injects her with the COVID-19 vaccine. — Caption: Nurse, Helga Fontes, is the first person to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Photo: © UNICEF

“We hope that, in the next phases, we will be able to increase the level of vaccination coverage so that we can immunize our population by the end of 2021,” said the Prime Minister of Cabo Verde.

Cabo Verde received its first batch of 24,000 doses on 12 and 5,800 on 14 March. The full article is available in Portuguese on the UN Cabo Verde website.

Jordan

Aesha, 62, a Syrian refugee living in the Za’atari Refugee Camp was one of those vaccinated.

“I am happy that the government of Jordan started giving us vaccines here in the refugee camp. It is for our own protection form the coronavirus. I always try my best not to be infected, especially for a woman my age. We don’t have that good immune system to respond to the virus like the younger generations does."

"At first, I was nervous because I heard rumours about the vaccine but, me? I know better. The vaccine is protection for us all and I am a woman of faith. I am here today to encourage others to take the vaccine”

A woman smiles cheerfully at the camera with her young daughter. Both flash the 'V' for vaccine sign with their fingers. — Caption: "I am very grateful for the vaccine,” Aesha, 62, a Syrian refugee flashes the ‘V for Vaccinated’ sign with her granddaughter after receiving her COVID-19 vaccine in Za’atari Refugee Camp, where she has lived since 2013. She has five sons, a daughter and 21 grandchildren.

Photo: © UNICEF/Moises Saman

So far, Jordan has received 144,000 doses of the vaccine from the COVAX Facility. A second shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility is expected to arrive in Jordan in April. UN Women with national partners launched five new safe spaces reaching more vulnerable Jordanian and Syrian women with direct cash assistance, protection services and distance learning. UNICEF winterization campaign in Jordan supported economic recovery efforts and provided income-generating opportunities for those who have been hardest hit by the secondary impacts of the pandemic. UNICEF is supporting close to 80,000 vulnerable children during the harsh winter months through cash assistance and warm clothing kit distributions.

For more information, visit: https://jordan.un.org/.

Mozambique

UN Resident Coordinator, Myrta Kaulard, explains the importance of the recent shipment of vaccinations in Mozambique.

“We will not be safe until everyone is safe!”

Caption: Caption: UN Resident Coordinator, Myrta Kaulard shares the importance of receiving the COVAX-backed COVID-19 vaccines. The first 384,000 doses of lifesaving COVAX vaccines arrived in Mozambique on 8 March of this year.

To learn more, visit: https://mozambique.un.org/.

Peru

UNICEF Representative in Peru, Ana de Mendoza, emphasizes the importance of the arrival of the COVAX-backed vaccines in Peru.

"It [the arrival of the vaccines] is a very important step in the fight against the pandemic."

Caption: On 10 March, Peru received an initial batch of nearly 120,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX mechanism, becoming the second country in Latin America and the Caribbean to benefit from the Facility. UNICEF Representative in Peru, Ana de Mendoza, explains the significance of this delivery.

To learn more, visit: https://peru.un.org/.