Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced yesterday the country will donate 1 million AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine doses to African countries through the international COVAX mechanism. Israel had signed on as supporter of the COVAX partnership about a year ago, but so far did not participate actively in donating vaccine doses through this specific mechanism.
In its announcement, the Foreign Ministry noted that in recent months, Israel has strengthened its relations with African countries, including Israel’s return last July to observer status in the African Union (AU). The significant donation of vaccines, which will reach close to a quarter of the continent's countries, will contribute to strengthening ties between Israel and these countries, said the announcement.