COVID-19 vaccination in Botswana

COVID-19 vaccination in Botswana is an ongoing immunisation campaign against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in response to the ongoing pandemic in the country.[citation needed]

COVID-19 vaccination in Botswana
DateMarch 8, 2021 (2021-03-08) – present
Time(GMT +2)
LocationBotswana
CauseCOVID-19 pandemic
TargetCOVID-19
Budget$10 Million
Organised byMinistry of Health and Wellness
Participants150,019 total doses administered (7 June 2021)
  • 150,019 people with at least 1 dose administered
  • 0 people fully vaccinated
WebsiteRegistration Portal

Mass vaccination started on 26 March 2021, initially with AstraZeneca's Covishield vaccine.[1] As of 7 June 2021, Botswana has administered 150,019 doses.[2][3]

Background

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Vaccines On Order

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Vaccine name Quantity Doses Arrived Approval
Pfizer-BioNTech 101,790 101,790   Approved
CoronaVac TBA 200,000   Approved
Covaxin 166,600 66,600   Approved
Janssen 1,200,000 0   Approved
Moderna 500,000 0   Approved
Oxford-AstraZeneca[4] 38,400 38,400   Approved

History

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Timeline

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February 2021

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In February, Botswana spent 10 million dollars on purchasing vaccines.[5]

March 2021

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Start of vaccinations of those aged 55 and older (phase 1) on 26 March, initially with 30,000 doses of Covishield donated by India and 33,600 doses purchased through the COVAX facility.[6][7][8]

April 2021

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In the first four weeks 47,160 persons received their first inoculation.[9] A week later, on 30 April, the number of vaccinated persons had increased to 49,882.[10][11]

May 2021

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49,959 persons had received their first inoculation by 3 May; 53,375 by 7 May; and 142,864 by 28 May.[12]

On 29 May Botswana received 38,400 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through COVAX, facilitated by UNICEF Botswana.[13][14]

June 2021

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On 3 June Botswana received 19,890 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine through COVAX. A supply agreement with Moderna was announced.[12][15][better source needed][16]

On 24 June Botswana received 200,000 doses of the CoronaVac vaccine.[17] By the end of the month 91,482 persons had been fully vaccinated.

July 2021

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Vaccination of 55-year-olds and older resumed on 5 July. Health ministry officials announced their intention to extend vaccination to those aged 30 to 54 (phase 2) at the end of July.[17]

On 16 July, the Ministry of Health and Wellness reported a shortfall of 15,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, initially foreseen for delivery in early June. To remedy the shortfall and ensure that those already vaccinated once with Oxford-AstraZeneca received their second inoculation within 12 weeks of the first, the Ministry recommended using the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for the second dose in case Oxford-AstraZeneca was unavailable.[18]

On 30 July, the Minister for Health and Wellness informed that out of more than two million vaccine doses on order, only 282,890 doses had been delivered so far.[19] By the end of the month 127,362 persons had been fully vaccinated.

August 2021

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The US delivers Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines to Botswana as part of the COVAX program in 2021

In August, the chief executive officer of former president Ian Khama's SKI Khama Foundation issued a statement to the effect that the foundation had secured two million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and two million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, sourced through U.S. firm KKM Global Group. The foundation offered the government to purchase the four million doses but needed a decision within five business days. Pfizer and AstraZeneca denied supplying any doses to KKM Global Group.[20][21]

On 8 August, Botswana received 38,400 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, followed by 108,000 doses of the Janssen vaccine.[22] On 19 August, it received 81,900 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine donated by the United States.[23]

By 23 August, Greater Gaborone had run out of Oxford-AstraZeneca, Janssen and CoronaVac doses and had to halt first inoculations until further notice, pending the arrival of more vaccine doses. Inoculations resumed a month later.

By the end of the month, 337,989 persons had received their first inoculation and 215,502 had received both doses.

September 2021

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On 5 September, Botswana received 404,494 doses of the CoronaVac vaccine.[24]

On 18 September, Botswana received the first 101,760 of 401,280 Oxford-AstraZeneca doses donated by Germany.[25]

On 23 September, Botswana received 50,400 doses of the Janssen vaccine donated by South Africa.

By the end of the month 245,559 persons had been fully vaccinated.

October 2021

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On 14 October, Botswana received a first batch of 49,200 doses under the supply agreement with Moderna reached in June 2021. One week later, it received 72,000 doses of the Janssen vaccine purchased through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust, followed by 72,000 more doses of the same vaccine on 25 October and 57,600 doses on 30 October.

By the end of the month 383,320 persons had been fully vaccinated, corresponding to 40% of the targeted population.

November 2021

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On 18 November, Botswana received 100,260 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine through COVAX.

By the end of the month 519,544 persons had been fully vaccinated, corresponding to 93% of the targeted population.

December 2021

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Botswana received 525,230 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on 2 December; 200,070 doses of the same vaccine on 6 December; 151,200 and 79,200 of the Janssen vaccine on 6 and 8 December respectively. On 12 December it received 72,000 doses of the Janssen vaccine and 72,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca doses, followed by 737,100 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on 16 December.

By the end of the month 1.03 million persons had been fully vaccinated, exceeding the targeted population.

January 2022

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By the end of the month more than 1.1 million persons had been fully vaccinated, exceeding the targeted population.

February 2022

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By the end of the month more than 1.4 million persons had been fully vaccinated, exceeding the targeted population.

April 2022

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By the end of the month more than 1.9 million persons had been fully vaccinated, exceeding the targeted population.

Progress

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Cumulative vaccinations

References

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  1. ^ "Botswana to use AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, minister says". news.trust.org. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Botswana: COVID-19 daily vaccine doses 2021". Statista. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  3. ^ "COVAX roll-out - Botswana". www.gavi.org. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Botswana to use AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, health minister says". Reuters. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Botswana to start COVID-19 vaccination in March - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  6. ^ Mguni, Mbongeni; Basimanebotlhe, Tsaone (26 March 2021). "Vaccination starts today – Health PS". Mmegi. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  7. ^ MGUNI, MBONGENI (21 May 2021). "Mmegi Online :: Botswana dodges bullet as India suspends vaccine exports". Mmegi Online. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  8. ^ "UPDATE 1-Botswana to use AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, minister says". Yahoo! Finance. Reuters. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Over 47 000 vaccinated". Daily News. 26 April 2021. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  10. ^ MGUNI, MBONGENI (11 June 2021). "Mmegi Online :: Govt taps private sector for P590m vaccine shortfall". Mmegi Online. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  11. ^ "UNHCR COVID-19 Response: Southern Africa, 1 - 30 April 2021 - Democratic Republic of the Congo". ReliefWeb. 24 May 2021. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  12. ^ a b Mguni, Mbongeni (3 June 2021). "Moderna confirms supply deal with Botswana". Mmegi. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  13. ^ Nimi Princewill (19 May 2021). "African countries have struggled to secure enough Covid-19 vaccines. So why are thousands of doses going to waste?". CNN. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Moderna Submits Authorization Application for its COVID-19 Vaccine in Adolescents in Switzerland". www.businesswire.com. 14 June 2021. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Botswana President receives first injection of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine". in.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Moderna enters supply deal with Botswana for COVID-19 vaccine". Reuters. 3 June 2021. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  17. ^ a b Kgamanyane, Nnasaretha (2 July 2021). "Phase Two COVID-19 vaccine to commence". Mmegi. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  18. ^ Phakedi, Tebogo (17 July 2021). "Botswana to use other vaccines for second shots due to delay in delivery of AstraZeneca". SABC. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  19. ^ Mguni, Mbongeni; Basimanebotlhe, Tsaone (3 August 2021). "Frustrations grow as only 14% purchased vaccines arrive". Mmegi. Archived from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  20. ^ Chakamba, Rumbi (12 August 2021). "Is Botswana's private COVID-19 vaccine offer too good to be true?". Devex. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  21. ^ Pheage, Tefo (11 August 2021). "Pfizer denies vaccine middlemen". The Botswana Gazette. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  22. ^ "The United States donates 81,900 doses of Pfizer vaccine to Botswana". U.S. Embassy in Botswana. 20 August 2021. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  23. ^ Dube, Mqondisi (14 August 2021). "Botswana tightens COVID-19 restrictions amid rising death toll". VOA. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Le Botswana reçoit plus de 404 000 vaccins Sinovac COVID-19". News FR-24 (in French). 5 September 2021. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  25. ^ "First delivery of German-donated COVID vaccines to COVAX land in Mauritania, with other deliveries to follow". Gavi. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.