SOUTH Sudan on Monday announced plans to return 72,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines to the COVAX facility for fears surrounding their approaching expiry.
Health Ministry Undersecretary Mayen Machut Achiek confirmed to Anadolu Agency that authorities in the country had reached an agreement with COVAX to send back the jabs developed by AstraZeneca before they expire on July 18.
“In our discussion with World Health Organization [WHO], we agreed to commit back 72,000 doses so they are kept safe. We don’t want to run the risk of them expiring in our hands,” Achiek said.
He added that the COVAX facility was also satisfied with the arrangement to return the doses, which are part of a 132,000-vaccine batch purchased in March.
The Ministry of Health has attributed the challenge in expanding the vaccination campaign in the country to low demand for the jabs, as well as logistical problems.
He revealed that after
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