45,630 Pfizer Vaccines Handed Over by US Government to Support Samoa’s Efforts to Combat COVID-19

May 2, 2022

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2 May 2022, Apia Samoa. The US Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), handed over 45,630 Pfizer vaccines to support the Government of Samoa’s efforts to combat the community spread COVID-19.

Open photo — UNICEF Dr. Akshaya Mishra, U.S. Embassy Apia Charge d’ Affaires Jonathan Lee Yoo, Deputy Director of Health, Dr. Robert Thomsen and EPI Coordinator RN Teuila Pati clearing the Pfizer vaccines from Customs.

UNICEF Dr. Akshaya Mishra, US Embassy Apia Charge d’ Affaires Jonathan Lee Yoo, Deputy Director of Health, Dr. Robert Thomsen and EPI Coordinator RN Teuila Pati were all at the airport upon arrival of the vaccines, to assist with the smooth clearing from Customs.

Cargo offloaded onto tarmac at Faleolo Airport (L-R: U.S. Embassy Staff, Seiloa Aniterea, Chargé d’Affaires Jonathan Lee Yoo, Deputy Director General Health Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thomsen, UNICEF Child Immunization Specialist Dr. Akshaya Mishra, EPI Coordinator RN Teuila Pati and EPI Staff Meaalofa Leota)

“The U.S. is committed to providing 1.2 billion doses of safe, effective vaccines to meet global needs. That extraordinary number of doses is protecting individuals, families, and villages here in the South Pacific and around the world,” says U.S. Ambassador to Samoa, Ambassador Tom Udall.

This latest delivery was made through the COVAX Facility. The United States is the largest donor to COVAX, having donated USD$4 billion to help protect the most vulnerable and at-risk populations in 92 low-and-middle-income countries.

During the arrival ceremony, Chargé d’Affaires Jonathan Lee Yoo said that, “These vaccines will help Samoa stay healthy, and they will save lives. This donation demonstrates the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting Samoa’s fight against COVID-19.”

The U.S. government, through USAID, has provided more than $52 million to bolster the capacity of 12 Pacific Islands countries, including Samoa, against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United States has donated vaccines to 115 countries. USAID has helped train healthcare workers, enhance contact tracing, bolster laboratory surveillance and critical care, improve public health communication, enhance vaccine rollouts, and support economic recovery efforts.