The African continent “urgently” needs more covid-19 vaccines at a time when supplies are dwindling and initial batches have almost run out in some countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Thursday.
So far, according to WHO, the continent has administered 7.7 million doses, mainly to high-risk populations, a very low number considering that Africa has about 1.3 billion people.
Forty-four African countries received vaccines through the Covax platform or through donations and bilateral agreements, and 32 of them have started vaccination programs.
Covax – an initiative created by WHO and the Alliance for Vaccines (Gavi) to ensure equitable access to vaccines – has delivered nearly 16 million doses to 28 African countries since it began deliveries on the continent on February 24 in Ghana.
Countries have made “significant progress” in reaching the high-risk populations targeted in the initial vaccination phase, including health care workers, the elderly and patients with comorbidities, WHO said in a statement.
While Covax has enabled many African countries to receive vaccines, a significant portion of these high-risk populations may remain unvaccinated over the coming months due to global supply chain constraints.
A slowdown in vaccine supply could prolong the painful journey to end this pandemic for millions of people in Africa
According to the WHO, vaccines have yet to reach a dozen countries in Africa, which has 54 sovereign states.
“A slowdown in vaccine supplies could prolong the painful journey to end this pandemic for millions of people in Africa,” WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti told a virtual press conference yesterday.
“While some high-income countries are trying to vaccinate their entire population, many in Africa are struggling to sufficiently cover even their high-risk groups. Procurement of covid-19 vaccines should not be a competition. Fair access will benefit everyone,” Moeti said.
Most African countries are actively participating in Covax which aims to provide enough vaccine doses to immunize at least 20% of Africa’s population by 2021.
However, demand for the vaccine is putting enormous pressure on the global manufacturing system, which has an annual capacity to produce between 3 and 5 billion doses.
