2nd Dose: Africa urgently needs 20 million of COVID-19 vaccine

 Thursday: 27th May 2021 at 7:03 PM

Brazzaville: 27 May 2021: (Press Release)::

Symbolic Photo

Africa needs at least 20 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the next six weeks to get second doses to all who received a first dose within the 8—12-week interval between doses recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

A single dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine gives around 70% protection for at least 12 weeks. Data on the protection from one dose after 12 weeks is limited, however COVID-19 antibodies have been found in the body up to 6 months after one dose. The full course provided with a 12-week interval gives 81% protection for an extended period.

In addition to this urgent need, another 200 million doses of any WHO Emergency Use Listed COVID-19 vaccine are needed so that the continent can vaccinate 10% of its population by September 2021. This follows a call made by WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the World Health Assembly, WHO’s governing body earlier this week for all Member States to support a massive vaccination push.

To date, 28 million COVID-19 doses, of different vaccines, have been administered in Africa, which represents less than two doses administered per 100 people in Africa. Globally, 1.5 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered.

“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,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Africa needs vaccines now. Any pause in our vaccination campaigns will lead to lost lives and lost hope.”

“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.”

France is the first country to share COVID-19 vaccines from its domestic supply, donating over 31 000 doses to Mauritania, with another 74 400 set for imminent delivery. France has pledged to share half a million more doses with six African countries in the next few weeks. The European Union and its Member States have pledged over 100 million doses for low-income countries by the end of 2021. The United States of America has pledged to share 80 million doses with lower-income countries, and other high-income countries have expressed interest in sharing vaccines. Expediting these pledges is crucial and the COVAX Facility is a proven tool for swift delivery. 

African countries that are unable to use all their vaccines are sharing them across the continent. While this prevents vaccine wastage, redistributing doses is costly and countries must roll out all available doses as soon as possible. WHO is working closely with countries to improve vaccine rollout by optimizing delivery strategies and increasing uptake.

In the longer term, Africa must boost its manufacturing capacity for vaccines. Yet there is no quick-fix and putting the policies, processes and partnerships in place may take years. Intellectual Property waivers are a crucial first step but must come alongside the sharing of expertise and critical technologies. 

More than 100 WHO Member States, including 54 African countries are co-sponsoring a draft resolution led by Ethiopia which is being presented at this week’s World Health Assembly. The resolution aims to strengthen local production, promote technology transfers and innovation, and consider the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and intellectual property rights through the lens of boosting local production.

WHO is helping African Member States to lay the groundwork to build up vaccine manufacturing capacity. Around 40 African countries joined a recent WHO training to build manufacturing capacities and WHO is working with the African Union to support the African Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa, supporting feasibility studies and potential technology transfers on request, sharing expertise and helping forge crucial partnerships.

Dr Moeti spoke during a virtual press conference today facilitated by APO Group. She was joined by Honorable Semano Henry Sekatle, Minister of Health, Lesotho, and Her Excellency Stéphanie Seydoux, Ambassador for Global Health, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France. Also on hand to answer questions were Dr Richard Mihigo, Coordinator, Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, WHO Regional Office for Africa, and Dr Nsenga Ngoy, Emergency Response Programme Manager, WHO Regional Office for Africa. 

Prime Minister Greets African National Congress

ANC Centenary Recalls  Mahatma Gandhi and Mandela
Anand Sharma leads Indian Delegation 

Calling the Centenary celebrations of the African National Congress (ANC) “a moving moment for all those across the world who cherish human dignity and freedom”, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has said that economic engagement between the two countries have demonstrated dynamism in recent years and India and South Africa have coordinated their positions on many complex global issues. In a message to the President Jacob Zuma of South Africa the Prime Minister wrote “the dawn of 21st century has seen a dramatic shift in global, economic and political architecture and in the emerging paradigm, countries of the South are increasingly being called to play a much larger role. …today we (India and South Africa) share the same table at United Nations Security Council and G-20 and we are partners in IBSA and BRICS.”

Shri Anand Sharma, Minister for Commerce, Industry and Textiles, who is heading the Indian delegation to the Centenary celebrations of the African National Congress (ANC) in the South African city of Mangaung (Bloemfontein) called on President Jacob Zuma, who is also the President of the ANC, yesterday and personally handed over the message of the Prime Minister along with the message of the and President of the Indian National Congress (INC), Smt. Sonia Gandhi. Smt Gandhi recalled the shared past and shared national heroes by the two countries. She recalled Mahatama Gandhi’s 22 year stay in South Africa where he shaped his philosophy of Satyagrah and Non-violence. She also noted that the “leadership of Madiba (President Nelson Mandela) provided the moral anchor and the healing touch during the reconciliation process which was the emergence of a rainbow nation.” She thanked President Zuma for his invitation to join the celebrations and informed him that the India is represented by a senior leadership delegation, comprising of those who have been proactively engaged with struggle against apartheid, as mark of respect and solidarity.

President Zuma thanked Minister Sharma for the messages and stated that the ANC and the Indian National Congress shared historic and fraternal links forged over many years of struggle for freedom and justice. Minister Sharma stressed the continuing importance India attaches to the bilateral relationship between India and South Africa, and noted that the close party to party relations between the ANC and INC were a special facet of the overall bilateral relationship between the two countries. 

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