After a year of disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 10,000 Basotho infected with the virus and almost 300 lives lost, the path to recovery for Lesotho can now begin with the arrival of a vaccine for Covid-19.

The deliveries mark the beginning of what will be the largest, most complex global rollout of vaccines in history. The COVAX Facility plans to deliver at least 2 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines by the end of this year. This is an unprecedented global effort to make sure all citizens have access to vaccines.

“This is a momentous occasion,” said Dr Richard Banda, WHO Representative for Lesotho. “Covid-19 has taken a toll on countries around the world and Lesotho is no exception. We know this is the first step and we congratulate the government of Lesotho, especially the ministry of health for its tireless efforts to protect Basotho and contain the spread of the virus.”

Lesotho received 36,000 vaccines as part of an initial tranche of deliveries of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine licensed to the Serum Institute of India, which represents part of the first wave of Covid-19 vaccines headed to several low and middle-income countries.

“We know the only way out of this crisis is to ensure that vaccinations are available for all,” Anurita Bains, UNICEF representative for Lesotho and acting UN resident co-ordinator. “It’s a historic day for the country and as the UN we stand ready to support the successful rollout of the vaccine programme.”

The shipment is the first tranche of many that will be allocated to Lesotho in the coming months and year through the COVAX Facility, which is working to accelerate the development of and access to Covid-19 vaccines. The facility is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organisation (WHO) working in partnership with UNICEF as well as the World Bank, manufacturers, civil society organisations, and others.

Contributions to the COVAX Facility from key partners who are also supporting Lesotho include: 

• The US Government recently contributed $2bn to the COVAX Facility. As the largest donor to COVAX, the US government is committed to supporting the international Covid-19 response, which is critical to ending this pandemic. “Over the last year, the US government has moved swiftly to support the local response to control the spread of Covid-19,” said US ambassador Rebecca Gonzales. “We will continue to support the vaccine rollout with trusted implementing partners and the ministry of health.”  

• The European Union has made €1bn contributions to the COVAX Facility. The EU and its member states have been one of the lead contributors to COVAX with over €2.2bn. Through these contributions, the EU and its partners have secured purchase options for Covid-19 vaccines for all the participants in the COVAX Facility. “The EU is committed to ensuring that everyone who needs a vaccine gets it,” said EU ambassador to Lesotho Christian Manahl. “Because we will only be safe if the whole world is safe. We are in a race against the virus and COVAX is our best hope that all our partners, in Africa and elsewhere, have access to safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines.” 
  
  
• The UK Government is one of the biggest donors to COVAX, helping to secure over one billion doses for vulnerable populations around the world. The UK has contributed £548m (or over $765m) to the COVAX facility. “The UK is delighted to see vaccines arriving 'on the ground' in Lesotho, said British high commissioner to Lesotho Anne Macro. “This is a testament to the hard work of the Lesotho government, ministry of health, and its partners in the UN and NGO sector in undertaking all the necessary advance preparation.” 

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