Vaccine Stock Out for Children…$823,680 Govt Co-Financing obligation not met to UNICEF

The Government of Sierra Leone has not fulfilled its own part of the agreement made with GAVI for the procurement U$ 823,680 worth of vaccine for children.
According to the agreement, the Government should Co-Finance 10% of the total amount of vaccine that will be procured by UNICEF while GAVI provide the reminding 90% as against the deadline of August 31st 2025.
This was made known during a press conference organized by Health Alert in collaboration with WASH-Net, at their Office PWD East of Freetown.
Making a statement at the press conference, the Executive Director Victor Lansana Kororma Esq underscored the importance of vaccine to children and the negative effects of failing to meet the dead line.
He stated that if government fails to urgently pay the sum of $ 823,680 Co-Finance to UNICEF for Immunization, more children may die.
He furthered that Sierra Leone is at serious risk of national vaccine stockouts if urgent co-financing payments are not made.
He pointed out that the delay directly threatens the health and lives of thousands of children across the country. He recalled that GAVI’s Co-financing letter was sent to the Government through the Ministry of Health and Finance on 25th June, 202. He noted that when vaccines run out it may take up to three (3) months before new shipments arrive and such delay may lead to avoidable illness and deaths among thousands of Sierra Leonean children that are to receive these vaccines.
He said government through the Ministry of Finance in 2025 committed to contribute the sum of $823,680 to UNICEF to support the procurement of essential vaccines and only $101,873 has been paid for Penta. The remaining $721,807 for vaccines including Measles Rubella, Rotavirus, Yellow Fever, HPV, Malaria, and PCV remains unpaid.
In his presentation, the Health Alert Programe Manager Dalton John said the vaccine is important because it saves lives, prevent outbreak, reduce health care cost and support child-development. He said UNICEF supports vaccine procurement and immunization system. The Co-financing is the portion of vaccine cost government should contribute.
He recommended that to avoid such situation government should align Co-financing payment with programmatic vaccine needs, monitor the vaccine stock out level, and engage ministry of finance for timely release of fund and to prioritize Co-Finance payment in the health budget.