COVID-19 Vaccination: Only Five African Nations To Meet Target- WHO
The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, at a virtual conference on COVID-19, said only five of the 54 African nations could achieve the year-end target of vaccinating 40 per cent of their populations.
He said that except something drastic, happens in the face of rising demand for essential commodities like syringes, only five nations in the continent might meet the target.
She said Seychelles, Mauritius and Morocco have already met the goal that was set in May by the World Health Assembly, the globe’s highest health policy-setting body. At the current pace, just two more countries, Tunisia and Cabo Verde would join the club.
The WHO official was joined at the event, facilitated by APO Group, by Director-General, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, and Director of External Affairs for PATH in the Africa Region & PATH Country Representative, South Africa, Sibusiso Hlatjwako.
Also on the ground to respond to questions were WHO’s New Vaccine Introduction Officer, Dr. Phionah Atuhebwe, and Deputy Incident Manager for COVID-19 Response, Dr. Thierno Balde.
Moeti feared that limited access to key items such as syringes might slow the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines on the continent.
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has reported an imminent shortfall of up to 2.2 billion auto-disable syringes for COVID-19 vaccination and routine immunisation in 2022. This includes 0.3ml auto-disposable syringes for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination.
The Botswanan physician said there “is no global stockpile of the 0.3ml specialised syringes, which differ from the 0.5ml syringes used for other types of COVID-19 vaccines and routine vaccination.”
“The market for 0.3ml auto-disable syringes is tight and extremely competitive. As such, these are in short supply and will remain so through at least the first quarter of next year,” she added.
The regional director said Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa and others had experienced delays in receiving syringes.
Moeti continued: “The looming threat of a vaccine commodities crisis hangs over the continent. Early next year, COVID-19 vaccines will start pouring into Africa, but a scarcity of syringes could paralyse progress. Drastic measures must be taken to boost syringe production. Countless African lives depend on it.”