WHO: 20 million COVID vaccine doses urgently needed in Africa

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Africa needs at least 20 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine within the next six weeks to improve access for countries rolling out second phase vaccination.

Through the COVAX facility, many African countries have been able to access doses of the Oxford/Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine for first-phase distribution.

Nigeria received 3.9 million doses in March, and is currently rounding off first-phase vaccination, while a few states have commenced the second phase of vaccine administration.

According to the WHO, an additional 200 million doses “of any WHO Emergency Use Listed COVID-19 vaccine” are needed to support Africa in achieving vaccination for 10 percent of its population by September 2021.

Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said the vaccine doses are needed as part of efforts to prevent a third wave of infections.

“As supplies dry up, dose-sharing is an urgent, critical and short-term solution to ensuring that Africans at the greatest risk of COVID-19 get the much-needed protection. Africa needs vaccines now. Any pause in our vaccination campaigns will lead to lost lives and lost hope,” she said.

“It’s too soon to tell if Africa is on the cusp of a third wave. However, we know that cases are rising, and the clock is ticking so we urgently appeal to countries that have vaccinated their high-risk groups to speed up the dose-sharing to fully protect the most vulnerable people.”

As of May 26, more than 4.7 million  coronavirus infections have been confirmed across the continent, out of which around 128,000 deaths and over 4.3 million recoveries have been recorded.