Africa secures another 400 million COVID-19 vaccine doses

Ar 400 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been secured for African continent through Serum Institute of India, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

With new doses, on top of 270 million doses anunced earlier this month from Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, I think we’re beginning to make very good progress, Africa CDC director John Nkengasong told reporters.

He said new doses were anunced in a meeting hosted by South Africa's president on Wednesday.

An Africa CDC spokesman said 400 million doses are of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. As with many vaccine deals, re were immediate details on cost or how much people might pay per dose.

Parts of African continent are seeing a strong resurgence in coronavirus infections, which Nkengasong called very aggressive. He warned that wave has t yet peaked.Africa’s case fatality rate of 2.5% remains above global one of 2.2%, and 14 of Africa’s 54 countries have case fatality rates above 3%. continent has more than 3.4 million confirmed virus cases, including more than 87,000 deaths.

continent of 1.3 billion people is racing to obtain eugh vaccines for goal of vaccinating 60% of its population to achieve herd immunity, and officials have repeatedly urged rich countries that have stockpiled vaccine doses to take an equitable approach and share.Africa also is expected to receive some 600 million doses via global COVAX initiative aimed at helping low-income countries. In a separate briefing Thursday, Richard Mihigo with World Health Organization told reporters re is a “very, very good prospect this objective to supply up to 600 million doses by end of 2021 will definitely be reached.”

first of those doses should roll out in Africa "probably by mid-next month, and by March we’ll definitely see most of countries vaccinating, targeting high-risk groups.” He called it a “slow start” but said he expected a ramping-up in coming months.As for 270 million doses anunced earlier, “we kw very well some of se doses will t be available soon,” Mihigo said. He did t give details.

He said that overall, reaching 35% of Africa’s population with COVID-19 vaccines by end of this year could be a realistic assumption. But it appeared he wasn’t taking newly anunced 400 million doses into account. WHO did t immediately respond to questions.

Mihigo also criticized global differences in cost for COVID-19 vaccines.

It is a shocking fact that a rich country can pay less than a country that is struggling, he said, pointing out that higher-income African countries like South Africa are t eligible for donated vaccines.

It’s time, really, to call for a fair price for those countries ... at minimum, at same price rich countries are getting.