U.S. Embassy
Avenida Kenneth Kaunda, 193
Caixa Postal, 783
Maputo
MOZAMBIQUE
PRESS RELEASE
U.S. Government donates 302,400 single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines to Mozambique
July 26, 2021– Today, July 26, 302,400 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine donated by the U.S. government arrived at the Mavalane International Airport in Maputo, Mozambique – the largest bilateral vaccine donation to Mozambique to date. Because the vaccine confers immunity in a single dose, this shipment will provide immunity to 302,400 Mozambicans. According to the U.S. FDA agency, the vaccine has 86 percent efficacy against severe disease and is effective against the delta variant. Storage of Johnson & Johnson vaccines is also less onerous than other vaccines, making them easier to distribute.
Ambassador Dennis W. Hearne stated: “I am proud that we are able to share these vaccines with our Mozambican friends. Because it is a single dose, exactly 302,400 Mozambicans will benefit from immunization. I have no doubt this will help save many lives.”
This assistance is another example of the strength of the U.S.-Mozambique relationship, building on decades of health cooperation between Mozambique and the United States. The U.S. Government has provided early and ongoing support for Mozambique’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the U.S. government has provided assistance valued at more than $38 million. This assistance includes 50 ventilators donated to the Mozambican Ministry of Health in 2020, personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, laboratory and oxygen equipment, training, and funding for increased medical staff, among other initiatives. For more information on U.S. support for Mozambique’s efforts to combat COVID-19, see visit this link.
The Biden Administration is committed to fighting the pandemic worldwide. The U.S. Government committed $4 billion to the COVAX Facility, becoming the largest donor to the global effort to vaccinate people around the world. The U.S. Government has also purchased 500 million vaccines for low-income countries around the world and donated 80 million vaccines from the United States’ own supply.
In close collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Mozambique, the U.S. Government provides more than $500 million in annual assistance to improve the quality of education and healthcare, promote economic prosperity, and support the overall development of the nation.
For more information about this press release, please contact the U.S. Embassy Maputo Press Office at MaputoPress@state.gov.
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