Slaughter and May advises on the U.S. Government donation of up to 5 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Jannsen) COVID-19 vaccine to African Union member states

Slaughter and May is advising on the donation of up to 5 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) single-shot COVID-19 vaccine by the Government of the United States of America to a number of member states of the African Union.

Slaughter and May previously advised on the establishment of the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) and its purchase from Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) of up to 400 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for member states of the African Union, through an advance purchase agreement between Janssen, AVAT and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). That agreement provided the framework for this donation and the parties were therefore able to adopt its mechanics, for example by making the donated doses subject to the No Fault Compensation Scheme established by AVAT.

The donation was also made possible by the Mastercard Foundation, which funded certain ancillary costs of delivering the doses. The donation is being supported by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) which is acting as the procurement and logistics agency in respect of the doses.