On Thursday, October 7, the U.S. Embassy in Conakry announced the arrival of 588,510 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The United States has worked for months with countries around the world to donate COVID-19 vaccines to those in need. This donation will support efforts to increase the percentage of the population vaccinated in Guinea. This vaccine donation, and others to come, have the singular objective of saving lives. That is our commitment.
With this contribution, the United States reaffirms its longstanding commitment to the public health of the Guinean people, a commitment that has remained steadfast over the past 20 years and during the COVID-19 global pandemic. The United States, as the largest bilateral donor to the health sector, is at the forefront of working hand in hand with the Guinean people to support improvements in local health systems. These vaccines, which can protect all Guineans, are part of President Biden’s pledge to fight the coronavirus pandemic. As President Biden stated, “This vaccine donation is about our values. We value the inherent dignity of all people. That’s who we are.”
“The best protection against COVID-19 is to be fully vaccinated,” said U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Steven Koutsis. “These vaccines are one of the most effective means of prevention, in addition to social distancing measures, to protect ourselves, our families and our communities from the risk of COVID-19 infection. I encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available to you.”
In Guinea, the United States has provided more than $5.5 million in assistance since the COVID-19 pandemic first broke out. Through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. support has reached millions of Guineans and has also improved laboratory capacity, strengthened healthcare workers’ skills, and helped to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic for vulnerable populations.
Equitable global access to safe and effective vaccines is essential to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. To save lives around the world, rebuild the global economy, and stop the threat of new variants, we must vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.