It’s do or die on COVID-19 dose sharing for Africa: WHO

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Africa, has said that it is do or die situation in Africa where only under 1% of the more than 2.1 billion COVID-19 doses administered the world over have been administered so far, stressing COVID-19 dose sharing on an urgent basis by the countries that can.

Covid-19 cases in Africa have risen for the third week running. The supply of vaccines in the continent are also increasingly scarce. Close to 90% of Africa – 47 out of 54 countries – will be missing the September target of vaccinating 10% of their people if 225 million more doses do not reach the continent. Only seven countries will be meeting the target. The new global targets were announced at the World Health Assembly recently.

Five million COVID-19 cases are feared in Africa in the near future, as the numbers of infected people are rising in the continent on a weekly basis. In the week ending on June 6, the number increased by close to 20% to more than 88,000. In 10 nations, COVID-19 is trending upwards. In four, a spike has been recorded of more than 30% in the last seven days against the week earlier. Zambia, Tunisia, Egypt, Uganda and South Africa reported 72% of all new cases, with more than half being recorded in nine southern countries.

“As we close in on 5 million cases and a third wave in Africa looms, many of our most vulnerable people remain dangerously exposed to COVID-19,” said Dr. Moeti in a press release WHO sent out to members of the press and which US and Global News also received from WHO. “Vaccines have been proven to prevent cases and deaths, so countries that can, must urgently share COVID-19 vaccines.”

She added, “It’s do or die on dose sharing for Africa.”

Just 2% of Africa’s close to 1.3 billion people have received one dose and only 9.4 million are fully vaccinated.

In addition to the issue of fewer COVID-19 dose sharing by the world, Africa is also suffering because of lesser usage of the available vaccines. There are 20 countries that have used less than 50% of the doses they received through the COVAX Facility. 14 African nations have used 80% to 100% of the doses. WHO said the countries that have a lot of vaccines available must act fast and vaccinate their people as many as they can.

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