Covid-19: Africa Seeks 220m Doses Of Vaccine – WHO
The World Health Organisation, on Thursday, disclosed that African governments were pushing for about 220 million Covid-19 vaccines, so as to stamp out the deadly virus from the continent.
It also revealed that while the total Covid-19 cases on the continent stood at 1,267,784 (as of Thursday), over 1 million recoveries and 30,317 deaths had been registered so far.
Advertisement
“While the race to find a #COVID19 vaccines continues, African countries are signing up to the #COVAX Facility, a ground-breaking initiative which aims to secure at least 220 million doses of the vaccine for the continent, once licensed and approved.
“All 54 countries on the African continent have expressed interest in #COVAX, a global initiative co-led by @CEPIvaccines, @Gavi & @WHO. Working with governments and manufacturers, the initiative aims to procure enough vaccine doses to protect the most vulnerable populations,” WHO, Africa Region tweeted.
COVAX is a collaboration founded by WHO and geared towards fast-tracking the development, production and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines.
Recall that WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom, had stressed that a vaccine was needed in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, among other public health advisory.
Advertisement
WHO Africa Region also confirmed that two vaccines were being reviewed in South Africa, a country mostly hit by the pandemic on the continent.
“@CEPIvaccines is leading #COVAX vaccine research and aims to develop up to three safe and effective #COVID19 vaccines.
“Nine candidate vaccines are currently being supported by CEPI; two are currently being tested in #SouthAfrica,” it stated.
It tweeted further : “Through #COVAX, vaccines that have passed regulatory approval or @WHO pre-qualification will be delivered equally to all participating countries, proportional to their populations.
“Health workers and other vulnerable populations will be prioritised first.”
Advertisement
