Less Than 2% Of World’s COVID-19 Vaccines Administered In Africa

The WHO AFRO says more efforts are needed to scale up COVID-19 vaccination in the African Region as many African countries have barely moved beyond the starting line.

According to it, less than two per cent of the world’s 690 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered to date globally have been in Africa with limited stocks and supply bottlenecks putting the vaccines out of reach of many people in the region.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director, World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO), spoke during a virtual press conference on Thursday facilitated by APO Group.

The meeting noted that most African countries received vaccines only five weeks ago and in small quantities.

However the efficacy of the vaccines have been thrown in doubt by growing dissent over the risks involved in taking the vaccines especilly by scientists and health professionals.

Many frontline workers have refused to take the vaccines as blood clot side effects attributed to the atrazenica vaccines are being investigated.