The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, November 26, urged African countries to quickly improve their capacity to vaccinate their populations against the coronavirus, warning that the continent was "
far from ready
" for mass vaccination.
Read also: Vaccines: one principle, three possibilities
While the search for a vaccine has accelerated since the beginning of the month, following promising announcements from several manufacturers, the WHO has called on Africa to step up its preparations, saying it in a statement is only ready at 33%.
This percentage, assessed on the basis of data provided by 40 countries of the continent on a series of criteria, is for the moment well below the target of 80%, according to the organization.
SEE ALSO
- The poorest risk of being "trampled in the rush on vaccines", warns WHO
“
Planning and preparation will be critical for this unprecedented task
,” WHO Regional Director Dr Matshidiso Moeti said in a virtual press conference, noting that the goal was to vaccinate 3% of Africans in Africa. 'by March 2021 and 20% by the end of next year.
The main shortcomings concern the lack of funding, instruments of measurement and communication with the populations, and to remedy this "
international solidarity will be imperative
", she indicated.
WHO estimates the cost of immunizing priority populations in Africa alone at around 4.8 billion euros.
African countries will be able to benefit from part of the mechanism for purchasing and distributing Covax vaccines, as well as funding from the World Bank.
Although Africa remains significantly less affected than most other continents by the pandemic, with some 50,000 officially deaths, for 2.1 million recorded cases, the continent is experiencing localized resurgences, in particular in South Africa and the Maghreb. , stressed Dr Moeti.