Government of Djibouti and the EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response programme extend COVID-19 vaccination drive for commercial truck drivers

The EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response programme managed by UNOPS and funded by the EU, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Djibouti, has been running a vaccination targeting truck drivers along the Djibouti-Ethiopia trade corridor. Since the launch of the vaccination program in September 2022, 25,255 truck drivers have been vaccinated under the initiative.

The vaccination exercise is  implemented by TradeMark East Africa as part of the EU-funded programme launched in 2020 to mitigate the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in the IGAD region. This specific action was facilitated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which is the partner in charge of relations with governments in the programme.

A first vaccination point has been set up at PK-12,  a major truck-holding area on the outskirts of Djibouti City. Building on the success of the first vaccination point, the initiative was extended to the Port of Tadjourah and Togwajale to target truck drivers using the Balho border. The vaccination was run continuously until  31st December 2022. 

The vaccination initiative also promoted the adoption of preventative health measures aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Moreover, the vaccination drive also contributed to the general health and social well-being of Djiboutians and Ethiopians along the Djibouti Corridor.

The vaccination drive is part of the EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response programme. The programme is funded by the EU, managed by UNOPS, coordinated by IGAD, and implemented by TMEA, IOM, UNICEF, and UNOPS. UNOPS has played a critical role in guiding and managing the regional program amidst the evolving pandemic through a tailored governance structure and strong collaboration with partners.