The inequalities around vaccinations against the Coronavirus ever more glaring.
WHO announced Thursday that due to lack of doses, the Covax mechanism will ship to Africa about 150 million fewer vaccines than expected.
The international funding system is supposed to allow 92 disadvantaged states and territories to receive free vaccines funded by more prosperous nations.
Taking this deficit into account, 470 million doses of vaccine expected on the continent will only vaccinate 17% of the population, estimated the regional office for Africa of the World Health Organization during its weekly briefing.
It would take twice as much to reach the global target of 40% vaccinated by the end of the year.
This shortage of vaccines comes as Africa crossed the 8 million infections mark this week, underlines the WHO.
"Rich countries are working to push Covax out of the market"
Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Africa director, lamented that "rich countries are working to push Covax out of the market", depriving this mechanism of sufficient doses. According to her, "the huge disparities in equity in access to vaccines are far from being closed as quickly as necessary".
Around 95 million doses are expected to be received in Africa via Covax during the month of September but, despite the resumption of shipments, "Africa has only been able to vaccinate 50 million people, or 3.6% of its population" , recalls WHO Africa.
Last week, it had to revise its forecasts downwards, its founders explaining the lack of available doses "by export bans, the priority given to bilateral agreements between manufacturers and countries, delays in filing applications. approval ”, etc.
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