01 Aug 2021

The agreement between Botswana and Moderna for the supply of 500 000 COVID-19 vaccine doses still stands. 

Contrary to a news article on Sunday Standard/The Telegraph social media platform, indicating that Moderna has withdrawn from its agreement to supply COVID-19 vaccine doses to Botswana, Ministry of Health and Wellness maintains that the deal is on. 

According to a news release from Ministry of Health and Wellness, in the said article, the paper states that Moderna withdrew from the sale agreement after the Ministry of Health and Wellness had failed to pay the vaccine company. 

The release says both Botswana and Moderna have a legally binding agreement that remains in force, and the ministry has not reneged on making any payments to the company. 

The statement goes on to say that the ministry has paid a total of P44.5 million (US$4 332 000) as part payment for the 500 000 doses procured, noting that the payment of the balance was currently being processed.

 It says as stated by the Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Edwin Dikoloti in Parliament, the ministry expects delivery of Moderna doses from August 2021. 

The ministry therefore, advises the Sunday Standard/The Telegraph newspaper to desist from misinforming members of the public about a matter so sensitive and dear to their lives, as COVID-19 vaccines, states the release.

“Such misinformation, can potentially lead to unnecessary panic, confusion, anxiety and hopelessness, especially at a time when many are looking up to the government to do all it could to bring home COVID-19 vaccines,” it says. 

The Ministry assures members of the public that it still expects the arrival of vaccines in August 2021, including Moderna, as elaborated by the Minister Dikoloti in Parliament on Friday. Ends