Africa needs a boost in Covid-19 vaccinations

THE Mo Ibrahim Foundation has called for a series of urgent actions aimed at upscaling Covid-19 vaccine access in Africa.

This pandemic is an enemy that knows no borders and unless every person in every country is protected, final victory will not happen.

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Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world and, with a population of over 1.3 billion, it’s one of the most unprotected and vulnerable regions, and it would be a fatal mistake to think that Africa can wait.

The continent is home to 17% of the world’s population and yet accounts for just 0.5% of global vaccine distribution, according to the latest data.

The latest data indicates that 4.28 million cases have been recorded on the continent, representing a 9% rise in just one month, though even this could be a significant underestimate of the true number.

At 2.7%, the case fatality rate in Africa is now higher than the global rate of 2.2%.

Ensuring equitable and balanced access to vaccines is a matter of global security and shared interest. If the virus is not defeated everywhere, it will continue to spread and mutate.

At a global level, huge advances in the battle against Covid-19 have been made, but Africa is still vulnerable.

Across the continent, vaccine accessibility is not only far below the efficacy threshold of 60% of the population, but significantly lower than the 20% promised by Covax.

As of 15 March, only 23.6 million vaccine doses had been distributed in Africa, sufficient for around 1.7% of the continent’s population.

Covax itself has provided 16 million doses to 28 African countries, leaving 16 countries to resort to donations and bilateral agreements, while ten countries remain totally outside any supply system.

The foundation said that if vaccine supply to Africa is not immediately upscaled, the continent’s frontline health workers are likely to be overwhelmed.

Currently, they are bearing the brunt of the pandemic, accounting for 3.5% of Covid-19 cases on the continent.

Ensuring equitable and balanced access to vaccines is not just a matter of justice, even less of charity.

It is a matter of global security and thus of shared interest,’ said the foundation in a statement earlier this week.

Vaccines need to get to Africa faster and additional financial resources need to be unlocked for the countries that need them most.

A clear and secure country-by-country Covax delivery schedule in Africa for the second quarter of the year is vital.

The foundation said an immediate solution to the current vaccine gap would be for wealthier countries to share part of their vaccine supplies with less advanced countries.

In response to the current crisis and looking ahead to future pandemics, Africa must strengthen and upscale its own vaccine manufacturing capacities, with support from its partners.

Much can be done here, ranging from immediately linking global manufacturers with local companies who have fill-and-finish capacities, to boosting investments, reducing intellectual property barriers, promoting technology transfers, and sharing data and expertise.

Making sure Africa is able to manage the current crisis while also preparing for the future is an urgent matter of global security.

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