STATEMENT ON UNAUTHORISED IMPORTATION OF COVID-19 VACCINE

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 STATEMENT ON UNAUTHORISED IMPORTATION OF COVID-19 VACCINE

LUSAKA (THURSDAY,2ND SEPTEMBER 2021)

Pursuant to the statement issued by the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) dated Tuesday 31st August 2021, the Ministry of Health wishes to commend the Authority for seizing and destroying a consignment of ten thousand （10,000) doses of a suspected COVID-19 vaccine imported into the country without authorization.

The Ministry further wishes to clarify that the said vaccines were not ordered by the Ministry of Health and therefore the Ministry was not the Consignee. At no time did the Ministry of Health undertake any tendering process for procurement

of vaccines at which Chrismar Earthmoving Equipment was selected.

Following Cabinet approval of the commencement of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme for Zambia,on 24th March,2021,the Ministry of Health has only received vaccines through the COVAX Facility and through donations from bilateral partners.

Government also placed an order of Four Million Four Hundred Thousand（4,400,000) doses of Johnson and Johnson vaccine through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), an initiative of the African Union (AU). The procuring agency under this initiative is United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The first batch of vaccines under the AVAT facility consisting of 129,500 doses of Johnson and Jonson vaccines is expected in early September.

The Ministry of Health wishes to reiterate its commitment to ensuring that, in implementing the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme as one of the key pillars in mitigating the health and socio-economic impact of COVID-19,only authorized

vaccines whose quality, safety and effectiveness are guaranteed will be brought into the country and administered to the public.

The Ministry of Health developed guidelines for private sector involvement in the COVID-19 vaccination programme following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Zambia Private Sector Alliance. This is intended to ensure private sector contribution to the COVID-19 vaccination programme is done in a

manner that safeguards the integrity of the campaign.

Government is finalizing modalities for private sector participation in the vaccine acquisition through the AVAT facility.

Therefore, the Ministry of Health wishes to issue a stern warning against any unauthorized importation of vaccines into the country as this contravenes the Medicines and Allied Substances Act No.3 of 2013.

The Ministry of Health re-affirms its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the acquisition, receipt and distribution of quality, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.

We therefore call upon members of the public to take advantage of the on-going Vaccination programme and get vaccinated in order to get fully protected against COVID-19.

Issued by:

Dr.Kennedy Malama

Permanent Secretary-Technical Services

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Source:MOH Zambia