Vaccination against COVID-19 is given to a health worker in Khartoum, Sudan. (Photo: THX/VNA) According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Africa, on June 14, President World Bank (WB) David Malpass had a meeting with the African Union (AU) COVID-19 Vaccine Procurement Task Force (AVATT) to discuss ways of cooperation to promote the vaccination against COVID-19 in Africa, of which WB will support the AU to deploy 400 million doses of vaccination Johnson & Johnson vaccine . Previously, on March 28, AVATT signed an agreement to buy 400 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot vaccine with a financial guarantee of $2 billion from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). The World Bank and the AVATT Group agreed to speed up all administrative procedures to ensure African countries have access to vaccines as soon as possible. The agreement between the World Bank and the AVATT Group will support AU Member States to implement immunization, including domestic distribution (logistics and storage in accordance with cold chain requirements), ensuring systems, energy necessary capacity and capacity for vaccination, promoting propaganda campaigns so that people are ready to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. John N. Nkengasong – Director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and member of AVATT – said the number of Johnson & Johnson vaccines reached under the agreement is an important key to directing aim to immunize at least 60% of Africans. Achieving this goal is a prerequisite for saving the lives and livelihoods of the people of Africa, safely reopening the continent’s economy, and continuing the continent’s economic development agenda. With more than 41 countries at various stages of finalizing their vaccine orders, and with increasing vaccination momentum, it is essential that countries can organize full vaccinations for their populations quickly and with affordable prices. Mr. Strive Masiyiwa – AU special envoy and AVATT coordinator – said that the decision to cooperate with AVATT by the World Bank was made after the US announced the sharing of COVID-19 vaccine, which means that countries can rest in peace. more concerned about access to and financing of needed vaccines. Under the AVATT structure, AU member countries are allocated vaccines based on population size through a collective procurement mechanism. These doses complement vaccines offered through the COVAX Mechanism – which aims to provide vaccines to 30% of the population of the participating countries – allowing AU Member States to achieve their continental vaccination targets. AVATT was established on November 6, 2020, with the task of finding the necessary funding and ensuring equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine for AU member countries.

Dr. David Muller with the high-density biopatch. Photo: Hung Vu. The technology allows researchers to use a bio-patch containing a dry layer of vaccine and then apply pressure from the injection device to deliver the vaccine into cells below the surface of the skin. Besides not using needles, this technology being tested on mice also has the outstanding advantage that it does not need to be stored in the cold chain. According to Dr David Muller, Australia’s leading virologist who was involved in the development of the new injection method, the Covid-19 vaccine delivered via a high-density biopatch induces a better immune response and faster. This technology has also shown to be more effective against dangerous variants of the current SARS-CoV-2 virus. What is unique about this single-dose vaccine technology, says Dr. Muller, is that it can help accelerate global vaccine coverage efforts, especially in low-income countries and regions of the world. remote areas. Tests to date have shown that when coated on a dry patch, the vaccine remains stable for at least 30 days in an environment of 25 degrees Celsius and 1 week if it is at 40 degrees Celsius. Using this technology, vaccines will not need to be preserved in complicated and expensive cold chains like today. The developers believe that the applicability of the new technology is very promising. In addition, scientists are also looking for funding to be able to conduct clinical trials on humans in the near future.