With new variants of the virus of COVID 19 scattering across the continent rapidly, Africa has marked the change from preparation to implementation in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations at the World Health Organization. A meeting was arranged by WHO on 17th February in the wake of listing two versions of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for emergency usage. President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country had secured nine million doses of vaccine till now.
Statement by WHO
By immunization the susceptible people quickly, Africa is reviving up to rollout COVID-19 vaccines through preparation plans, which will help ensure the population of African countries hit the ground running fast, WHO regional director Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said in a statement.
- Plans are required for countries in a quest to receive vaccines from COVAX, a universal initiative to ensure equal access to COVID-19 vaccines led by WHO, the vaccine alliance, and the coalition for epidemic preparedness Innovation (CEPI).
- Careful planning is critical to ensure vaccines reach every single African country.
Providing Vaccines to low-income countries
- By a sovereign regional review committee, National deployment and vaccination plans for COVID-19 vaccines from 35 less income, countries be entitled to free vaccines from COVAX, which will be a meaningful step advancing for Africa.
Relocation of people
- Working on setting up systems to manage the logistics and supply chain for vaccines.
- Reaching Refugees, Migrants, and internally relocating people have been specialized by the regional committee consisting of over 100 experts from six public health bodies.
Growth in countries
- Since December 2020, there has been a 50% surge in arrangements produced by over 30 countries.
Variants detected in countries.
- Identification of Variant B1.351 is prominent in South Africa and Zambia. It has been detected in nine African nations, including Botswana, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Comoros, and Mozambique.
- Identification of Variant B1.1.7 detected in United Kingdom was found in six African countries like Gambia, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa.
Overall state of readiness
- Planning of largest-ever immunization drive, vaccine delivery dates which COVAX requires.
- Vaccine manufactures can schedule shipping dates with liability. Dr. Moeti was briefed in the statement.
How are African countries getting Vaccines?
After recording more than 100,000 deaths from Coronavirus, South Africa has been hard hit by the virus. According to the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, initial vaccination was delayed, as the study could not assess the effectiveness of AstraZeneca in preventing severe diseases.
- Ninety million doses were expected to cover 3% of the continent’s population in the first half of 2021.
- We aim to vaccinate at least 20% of Africans by providing 600 million doses by the end of 2021, WHO said.
- Immunizing healthcare workers and vulnerable groups are our goals.
How will the vaccine be shared in poor countries of Africa?
- MTN, Africa’s leading mobile network provider, has donated $25 m to the Africa union plan.
- It will secure 7 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to healthcare workers.
Which countries are already vaccinating?
In North America,
- Morocco
- Algeria
- Egypt
In Sub-Sahara Africa,
- South Africa
- Zimbabwe
- Mauritius
- Rwanda
- Seychelles
Steps to preparation for COVID-19 vaccine in Africa
- Resources and Funding
- Planning and coordination
- Vaccine cold chain and logistics
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Safety and surveillance
- Demand generation and communication
- Service delivery
- Prioritization
- Vaccine regulation
