The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide a surge of resources to Senegal through the Initiative for Global Vaccine Access, or Global VAX, a U.S. Government effort to turn COVID-19 vaccines in vials into vaccinations in arms. As part of this effort, USAID plans to program an additional $15 million in Senegal. This funding will support activities including bolstering cold chain supply and logistics, addressing vaccine confidence and demand, and increasing the accessibility of vaccination sites. It will also support Senegal’s existing vaccination plans, and will help get vaccines to people quickly and equitably. Global VAX builds on nearly $10 million that USAID has provided in Senegal to respond to COVID-19.
As of March 15, 2022, over 2.4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Senegal, but less than 10 percent of the country’s population has received at least one dose and only 6 percent has been fully vaccinated. Deputy Director of Health at USAID, Dr. Fatou Ndiaye, noted that while Senegal has made good progress in increasing vaccination rates already, many more people still need protection. “With additional resources, more can be done. This is where Global VAX comes in.”
Global VAX will provide support and resources to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines, including strengthening international coordination to identify and rapidly overcome vaccine access barriers. To date, the United States has already committed $1.7 billion to support vaccine readiness work globally.
The additional resources from Global VAX will be invested strategically to align with Senegal’s ongoing efforts to accelerate the national COVID-19 vaccination plan. USAID and its partners will work with Senegal’s government to bolster local health systems and help increase vaccine access among vulnerable and difficult-to-reach populations.
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About USAID
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) promotes and demonstrates American values of democracy and its vision of a free, peaceful, and prosperous world. Together with our Senegalese partners, USAID/Senegal provides assistance that saves lives, expands economic growth, provides education opportunities, strengthens governance and civil society, and supports Senegal’s national development plan, the Plan Sénégal Emergent. +221 33 879 4000 ; senegalDOC@usaid.gov ; www.usaid.gov/senegal