The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Director Dr. John Nkengasong on Thursday said Africa must develop its capacity to produce COVID-19 vaccines as the continent lags in its efforts to vaccinate 60% of its 1.3 billion people, reported Africa News.
During a press briefing, Dr. Nkengasong said at least five African countries appear to have the capacity to produce vaccines, citing South Africa, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt.
The Africa CDC director had previously set the goal of vaccinating 60% of Africa’s population by the end of this year, but the target is now a year later by the end of 2022.
Nkengasong said a meeting is planned for April 12 between the African Union and outside partners to create a roadmap for boosting African capacity to eventually produce COVID-19 vaccines.
“It’s so important for us to have that,” he said, referring to vaccine security.
At least 22 of 54 African countries have received Covid-19 vaccines through COVAX, an initiative that ensures low- and middle-income countries receive vaccines. The vaccine shipments range from a few thousand doses to millions sent to countries ranging from Nigeria to Uganda.
Nkengasong said that vaccine arrivals in recent days left him happy and feeling there is “light at the end of the tunnel.”
The COVAX is expected to deliver some 600 million vaccine doses to Africa, but the facility is facing delays and limited supply.
The number of COVID-19 infections in Africa is inching closer to four million as countries tighten efforts to tackle new waves of the virus.
According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the continent had so far reported 3,994,030 coronavirus cases including 106,712 deaths. Notably, many African countries have already rolled out their COVID-19 vaccination campaigns focusing on frontline healthcare workers, essential workers, and the elderly.
