The Road to COVID-19 Jabs amidst Fuel Crisis

In its continued fight against COVID-19 in Lebanon Medair, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and with funding from EU Humanitarian Aid, is establishing mobile COVID-19 vaccination teams by adapting several buses to create ‘VaxBuses’. This will drive up vaccination rates in vulnerable communities with low vaccination coverage across the Bekaa Valley, Baalbek-Hermel, Nabatiyeh and the South of Lebanon, including those with physical disability currently unable to access mass vaccination services.

In the aftermath of the Beirut Port explosion, Lebanon continues to face a series of compounding crises including a severe economic downturn, civil unrest, political instability, fuel, and medicine shortage.  COVID-19 and newly surfaced variants are placing increasing pressure on the health infrastructure, already struggling in the face of a socio-economic crisis and pandemic.

In Lebanon, 26 percent of individuals are fully vaccinated, with all of the communities susceptible to infection. Many people are unvaccinated because they do not have transport to go to the centres due to the fuel shortage and inflation.

 “We are aware that the cost and availability of transport is making it very difficult for people in this crisis to access vaccinations. But if people are unable to come to us, then the VaxBus means that we can go to them!” says Anna Chilvers, Medair Lebanon Country Director.

The VaxBus is a specially-adapted bus fitted with cold chain and medical equipment which can travel to populations in towns and rural areas. The aim is to increase vaccination rates among vulnerable groups and the surrounding communities, making it possible for them to receive a COVID-19 vaccine closer to home. The bus brings trained nurses on the road to administer the vaccinations in key buildings across the Bekaa Valley, Baalbek and the South of Lebanon.

“When food, fuel and medicines are hard to come by, vaccination can seem a lesser priority. Amid the deepening crisis in Lebanon, the EU is committed to protecting vulnerable people and strengthening public health,” says Esmée De Jong, head of EU Humanitarian Aid in Lebanon.

Medair has been running a COVID-19 vaccination center in Saida, South Lebanon since June 2021 and has administered over 35,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. To encourage people to get vaccinated and reduce misinformation around the available vaccinations, Medair’s Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) are going door to door in the surrounding communities to conduct awareness sessions on COVID-19 prevention as well as raise awareness on the COVID-19 Vaccination locations, vaccine awareness, registration updates, and combating vaccine hesitancy.

Medair has been providing health and shelter support to refugee and vulnerable Lebanese families in the Bekaa Valley since 2012. Medair’s support of the COVID-19 vaccination project is with the financial support of the European Union, Swiss Solidarity and private foundations, and with Gift in Kind from UNICEF. Additionally, following the explosion in Beirut, Medair repaired residential homes and is now repairing community buildings, and meeting basic needs through multi-purpose cash assistance. With the economic crisis, humanitarian needs in Lebanon are now much higher.

For media

Media enquiries should be directed to:
In Lebanon:
Abdul Dennaoui, Communications Officer (English, Arabic)
abdul.dennaoui@medair.org

Medair is an international humanitarian NGO that provides emergency relief and recovery services to families made vulnerable by natural disasters, conflicts, and other crises. For regular updates, please check www.medair.org