A vaccine clinic in Mozambique. Stiffler, Lisa. “Vaccine expert on U.S. missteps and what we can learn from successful inoculations in Africa.” GeekWire, 6 March 2021, https://www.geekwire.com/2021/vaccine-expert-u-s-missteps-can-learn-successful-inoculations-africa/. Accessed 30 October 2022.
Here in America, the COVID-19 pandemic is near its final stages. Businesses have reopened, people have returned to work, and students are back to in-person instruction. None of this recovery would have been possible without the life-changing vaccines introduced in 2021.
Africa, however, has had extremely limited access to vaccines during the pandemic, hindering its potential recovery. As of late October 2022, only 23 percent of the African population is fully vaccinated, according to the African Center for Disease Control.1 Figure 1 shows the vaccine coverage per African country. Nine countries have between 0 and 10 percent of their population vaccinated, while another 34 countries have between a 10 and 40 percent vaccination rate. Africa severely lags behind the United States, which has a vaccination rate of 68 percent,2 and the United Kingdom, having over a 90 percent vaccination rate.3
Figure 1
Vaccine Coverage by Each Member State
Note. This figure shows the percentage of people vaccinated for COVID-19 in each African country. “COVID-19 Vaccination.” Africa CDC, https://africacdc.org/covid-19-vaccination/. Accessed 30 October 2022.
There are many factors that contribute to the limited vaccine distribution in many African countries, such as a lack of government funding. This is especially true for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as explained in a PBS NewsHour. A health clinic is pictured below in the nation’s capital, Kinshasa. According to Dr. Cyprien Katurisi, Owner of Saint Cyprian Health Centre, the clinic is in dire need of medical supplies, disinfectant, and masks to slow the spread of COVID-19.4
Saint Cyprian Health Centre in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Why it could be years before Africans have access to coronavirus vaccines.” YouTube, 29 December 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beKpbm3lXaA. Accessed 30 October 2022.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the poorest countries in the world and suffers from political corruption, which hinders the development of its healthcare system. The government lacks the money to obtain vaccines as it is simultaneously fighting other diseases such as polio and cholera.
Another issue is that the wealthiest countries, such as the United States and many European nations, are stockpiling the world’s most trusted vaccines. As a result, Africa is forced to turn to less trusted alternatives, such as those from Russia and China.
John Nkengasong, the Africa CDC director, works with a global initiative called COVAX to ensure that countries like the DRC are not left behind. Although the number of vaccinated adults is steadily increasing, Africa lags behind the rest of the world. COVAX is struggling from a lack of funds and is likely to fail, prolonging people’s inability to obtain vaccines. In addition, children are especially being impacted by this crisis. In July 2022, only 7 percent of doses administered in 23 countries were given to children younger than 18.5 In the United States, 67 percent of 12-17 year-olds alone were vaccinated as of October 2022.6
It is important to take action so more African children have access to COVID-19 vaccines as it is a necessary step to ending the pandemic. There are many charities helping in the vaccine distribution efforts, such as Doctors Without Borders. This French nonprofit is dedicated to responding to medical humanitarian emergencies. During the pandemic, it has treated sick patients, provided mental health support, and advocated for equitable, affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has donated vaccines, trained healthcare workers, and equipped them with personal protection and infrastructure to store and support vaccines. The links to donate are listed below.
1 “COVID-19 Vaccination.” Africa CDC, https://africacdc.org/covid-19-vaccination/. Accessed 30 October 2022.
2 “US Coronavirus vaccine tracker.” USAFacts, https://usafacts.org/visualizations/covid-vaccine-tracker-states. Accessed 31 October 2022.
3 “Covid vaccine: How many people are vaccinated in the UK?” BBC, 4 March 2022, https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55274833. Accessed 31 October 2022.
4 “Why it could be years before Africans have access to coronavirus vaccines.” YouTube, 29 December 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beKpbm3lXaA. Accessed 30 October 2022.
5 “COVID-19 vaccination in Africa increases by almost three-quarters in June 2022.” WHO | Regional Office for Africa, 20 July 2022, https://www.afro.who.int/news/covid-19-vaccination-africa-increases-almost-three-quarters-june-2022. Accessed 30 October 2022.
6 “Children and COVID-19 Vaccination Trends.” American Academy of Pediatrics, https://www.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/children-and-covid-19-vaccination-trends/. Accessed 30 October 2022.
Comments