By Sami Zaptia.
London, 16 September 2021:
Italy donated 117,600 doses of the AstraZeneca anti-Coronavirus vaccines to Libya. The consignment arrived at Mitiga airport yesterday with the help of UNICEF through the COVAX/GAVI facility. Libya is a self-funding member of the COVAX/GAVI facility.
At his questioning session in parliament last week, Libya’s Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba said that none of the vaccines that had arrived in Libya so far had been donated and that Libya has had to pay for them.
The Italian embassy yesterday said the vaccines were ‘‘donated’’ to Libya. It said ‘‘After the generous mission of Libyan doctors to Rome at Celio Hospital last year, Italy and Libya are still working together to face the pandemic.’’
Libya’s vaccines and Coronavirus update
Italy’s AstraZeneca donation follows on from AstraZeneca deliveries from Greece and Malta on 17 August.
Malta had sent 40,000 doses of AstraZeneca anti-Coronavirus vaccines and an equal number of Rapid Antibody test kits. The process was conducted through close cooperation with the World Health Organization and Libya’s Health Ministry.
The Maltese consignment arrived on the same day as another consignment of 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines arrived at Mitiga from Greece. Italy’s donation makes it the fifth consignment of AstraZeneca vaccines to arrive in Libya.
Overall, it is the fifteenth consignment of vaccines to arrive in Libya. It brings the total number of the four brands (Sputnik V, Astra Zeneca, Pfizer and Sinovac/pharm) received in Libya to 3,756,252 doses.
Vaccine arrivals in Libya
| Brand | Quantity | Date of arrival | Note | |
| 1 | Sputnik V | 101,252 | 040421 | Via UAE |
| 2 | Oxford AstraZeneca | 57,600 | 080421 | Via Covax |
| 3 | Sputnik V | 100,000 | 090421 | ? |
| 4 | Sinovac | 150,000 | 140421 | Via Turkey |
| 5 | Oxford AstraZeneca | 117,600 | 190521 | Via Covax |
| 6 | Sputnik V | 100,00 | 150621 | ? |
| 7 | Pfizer | 54,600 | 240621 | Via Covax |
| 8 | Sputnik V | 100,000 | 060721 | ? |
| 9 | Sputnik V | 500,000 | 190721 | ? |
| 10 | Sinovac/pharm | 1,200,000 | 020821 | ? |
| 11 | Sinovac/pharm | 800,000 | 040821 | ? |
| 12 | Oxford AstraZeneca | 117,600 | 120821 | Via Covax |
| 13 | Oxford AstraZeneca | 200,000 | 170821 | Via Greece |
| 14 | Oxford AstraZeneca | 40,000 | 170821 | Via Malta |
| 15 | Oxford AstraZeneca | 117,600 | 150921 | Italy/Covax |
| Total: | 3,756,252 |
Libya has ordered 12 million doses
It will be recalled that the Libyan government had announced earlier that it had ordered a total of 12 million doses for its official population of 6.9 million people. The vaccine is available to non-national residents and illegal migrants too.
Over 800,000 vaccinated
According to the latest figures released by Libya’s National Disease Control Centre (NDCD) today, 1,266,669 people have now received a vaccination, of which 145,217 have also received their second dose.
This means that Libya is sitting on over 1.25 million doses not rolled out yet. Many Libyans have complained to Libya Herald that they are still awaiting their second Sputnik dose.
Vaccination drive launched
The government had launched a nationwide vaccination drive starting in the biggest population centres of Tripoli, Benghazi, Sebha and Misrata.
The latest Coronavirus cases and vaccinations
Meanwhile, the latest NCDC figures reported today read as follows:
| Total number of people vaccinated – 1st dose | 1,266,669 |
| Total number of people vaccinated – 2nd dose | 145,217 |
| Total number of Coronavirus cases | 328,856 |
| Total number of recovered cases | 243,672 |
| Total number of active cases | 80,704 |
| Total number of deaths | 4,480 |
| Total number of tests conducted over last 24 hours | 5,039 |
| Rate of infection | 20.8 percent |
Malta delivers 40,000 Astra Zeneca vaccines and test kits to Libya | (libyaherald.com)
Greece sends Libya 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines | (libyaherald.com)
Libya ends partial lockdown due to stabilizing coronavirus situation | (libyaherald.com)
Coronavirus vaccination drive expanded, oxygen shortage over: Health Ministry | (libyaherald.com)
800,000 doses of Sinopharm anti-Coronavirus vaccines arrive in Tripoli | (libyaherald.com)
Anti-Coronavirus vaccines will be made mandatory in Libya : PM Aldabaiba | (libyaherald.com)
