Ethiopia to Receive 108,000 Doses of J&J Vaccines

Sep 4 , 2021


[ssba-buttons]

Ethiopia will receive its first round of 108,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine on September 6,2021, facilitated through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT). AVAT is an initiative of African Union members states established to act as a centralised procuring agent on behalf of the members to achieve vaccination goals through pooled financial resources. The AVAT has signed an agreement to procure 220 million doses of the J&J single shot COVID-19 vaccine with the potential to order 180 million additional doses. Last month, Ethiopia received 1.2 million doses of the J&J vaccine from the Unites States and half a million does of the AstraZeneca jab from the United Kingdom. The vaccines have been rolled out to people older than 18. As of the end of last week, the total number of vaccinated people stood at 2.5 million.


Radar

Somali Region Advances Budget Independence as Revenues Rise

Somali Regional State is moving closer to fiscal independence, with nearly half its budget now funded locally. Officials point to rising agricultural output and stronger tax enforcement as key drivers behind growing revenues. The region plans to cover 32.5 billion Br from its own resources in the upcoming fiscal year. Communication Head Mohammed Abdi credited last year's tax collection of 18 billion Br, exceeding the 17 billion Br target, to agriculture, khat, and other taxable goods. The reg...


Radar

Environmental Protection Authority Shuts Down Polluters

Addis Abeba's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has taken enforcement action against 3,249 manufacturers and service providers found violating environmental standards in the 2024/25 fiscal year. The violations, ranging from air and noise pollution to improper waste disposal, were identified during inspections of 14,872 businesses citywide. Penalties included warnings and closures, with shutdown orders issued to six plastic factories, 23 block factories, a soft paper plant, 102 nightclu...


Radar

Ministry Mandates Full Electronic Clearance for Top Taxpayers

Taxpayers under the Ministry of Revenues' Medium No. 1 branch will have to ditch paper filings and switch entirely to the e-Clearance system for non-audited services starting August 1, 2025. The mandate, routed through the Ministry's e-filing portal, is pitched as part of a broader push to modernise tax administration and advance the government's digital agenda. Officials say the platform lets users process clearance requests remotely via the Fayda national ID, cutting out manual paperwork. A...