Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has clarified on the management of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines received through a donation to the African Union’s African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT), the entity responsible for leading the continent’s COVID-19 vaccine strategy.
The centre stated that in mid-March, AVATT shipped 925,000 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines to 13 AU Member States.
All countries were informed of the limited expiration date of 13 April 2021.
Given the urgent need to save as many lives as possible, countries were informed by the Africa CDC to vaccinate quickly and to focus the vaccination campaign specifically on the inoculation of health care workers.
“Africa CDC subsequently received concerns regarding the 13 April 2021 expiration date, and took swift action to resolve.
The Serum Institute of India, from which the vaccines were procured, advised and sent a formal letter indicating an approved ‘shelf-life extension’ for an additional three months, through 13 July 2021.” the centre stated.
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