"We reiterate our call for developed countries, which have the industrial capacity to produce vaccines to be more sensitive, and understand that no one is going to save themselves. Either we all save ourselves, rich and poor, powerful and not powerful, or nobody is going to save themselves. It is a pandemic that has reached the whole planet and the whole planet has to be attended to", said Lourenço, as he was leaving the center where he received the first dose of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.
João Lourenço pointed out that there is little capacity of response on the part of the vaccine producers, in face of the world demand. Therefore, an effort must be made so that the vaccines reach the beneficiaries at accessible prices, namely the African countries without great financial resources.
The Head of State manifested, however, optimistic that "the appeal of those who need it most will be heard" so that the problem may be solved quickly.
The President admitted, however, that the Executive does not rely only on what is offered and that it will be necessary to buy more vaccines.
"That effort is being made, despite the difficulties that exist. As we mobilize more financial resources we will continue to fight to acquire more vaccines", he emphasized.
João Lourenço was one of the high-ranking State figures welcomed this Thursday at the vaccination center against covid-19 in Luanda, at a time when the numbers of infections keep growing in the country, with the authorities showing concern with the new strains and taking more restrictive measures to prevent the disease.
Besides the head of state and the first lady, Ana Dias Lourenço, also received the vaccine the vice-president of the Republic, Bornito de Sousa, the minister of state and head of the security house of the President of the Republic, Pedro Sebastião, and the minister of state for social affairs, Carolina Cerqueira.
Angola has already received the first 40 thousand doses of a batch of 6 million Sputnik V, purchased for about 94 million euros, as well as 624 thousand doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, under the Covax initiative, and 200 thousand doses of Sinopharm in an offer from the Chinese government.
The country has so far used more than 620,000 doses of covid-19 vaccines, including 40,000 people already fully vaccinated (with the first and second doses administered).
