Voice of America
26 Nov 2021, 00:05 GMT+10
NAIROBI, KENYA - African health officials say the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations has slowed on the continent, raising concerns about stopping the pandemic. They are calling on Africans to get inoculated as soon as vaccine arrives through the COVAX initiative, which aims for equitable, global access. The World Health Organization African Region also is warning people against lowering their guard during this festive period.
Speaking at a virtual press briefing Thursday, John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the number of Africans seeking COVID-19 vaccinations has gone down.
"Only 55% of the vaccines that have arrived have been used in the continent. That's a really unacceptable situation because of distribution which means that if people want to be vaccinated, they can be vaccinated. We are making an appeal to everyone in the continent who has access to vaccines to go get their vaccines and that's the only way we can protect ourselves," he said.
The continent's health agency says the slow pace of inoculations is not about hesitancy or lack of vaccine, but moving the vaccine from the airport to people's arms.
So far, Africa has vaccinated 10% of its population and received 330 million doses from COVAX, the U.N.-backed global initiative to distribute shots to low- and middle-income countries. Africa has a population of 1.3 billion people.
Richard Mihigo is a program coordinator with the World Health Organization's Immunization and Vaccine Development Program.
"It's very good news now that we have more supply. Now we are trying to make sure the countries are getting ready, they are even diversifying strategies in reaching out not only to vulnerable populations, but we have also seen countries that have opened up vaccination even to children between 12 years and above," he said.
Kenya has witnessed slow action on COVID-19 vaccinations. This week, authorities threatened to cut off government services to unvaccinated individuals.
Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO's regional director for Africa, said the population needs to be careful as people prepare for the December holidays.
"...We are already seeing an uptick in cases in southern Africa with a 485% jump in new cases compared with the presiding week. This comes after 18 weeks of sustained decline with the increase driven mainly by a spike in cases in southern Africa. We know that vaccination is our best defense. But while many high-income countries report more than 60 percent vaccine coverage, just over 7% of Africa's population is fully vaccinated," said Moeti.
Botswana and South Africa have reported a new coronavirus variant, B.1.1529, which is believed to be highly transmittable and vaccine-resistant.
A WHO analysis shows only 27% of African health workers are fully vaccinated, leaving many medical workers unprotected.
Africa has recorded more than 8.6 million coronavirus cases and 221,000 deaths from the resulting COVID-19 illness.
Get a daily dose of Zimbabwe Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Zimbabwe Star.
More InformationCONCORD, New Hampshire: A federal judge in New Hampshire issued a crucial ruling on July 10 against President Donald Trump's executive...
DUBAI, U.A.E.: A cargo ship flagged under Liberia, known as the Eternity C, sank in the Red Sea following an attack executed by Yemen's...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has started sending some weapons to Ukraine again, just a week after the Pentagon told officials...
ECAULT BEACH, France: On clear days, the white cliffs of the United Kingdom, are visible from northern France, where men, women, and...
ATLANTA, Georgia: The United States is facing its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, with 1,288 confirmed cases so...
In the past month alone, 23 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza—three more than the number of remaining living hostages held...
London [UK], July 13 (ANI): As India gears up for a potential big chase at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground, the historical odds offer...
Geneva [Switzerland], July 13 (ANI): A recent report by the United Nations' World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has revealed that...
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): Devon Conway, Mitch Hay, Jimmy Neesham and Tim Robinson set to join the New Zealand T20I squad for...
Hohenstein-Ernstthal [Germany], July 13 (ANI): The wet weather has come to play on Saturday at the Liqui Moly Grand Prix of Germany,...
Africa's tropical belt, defined by the Guinean forests of west Africa and the Congo Basin of central Africa, is globally recognised...
Zimbabwe has the largest lithium reserves on the African continent. Lithium has been mined since the colonial period in the 1950s....