African vaccine producers supply just 1% of the continent’s needs at present – but the plan is to increase this to 60% by 2040, according to John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control (CDC). “The vision is to ensure Africa has timely access to vaccines to protect public health security, by establishing […] Continue reading ->
CAPE TOWN – South Africa has secured enough COVID-19 vaccine doses for 41 million people from Johnson and Johnson and Pfizer, but only 6 million of these will be delivered by June because of “supply constraints”, the country’s health ministry announced on Friday. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize told a civil society briefing that the vaccination […] Continue reading ->
Global health experts expressed their frustration with the lack of research and attention towards neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and vulnerable populations, calling for health systems to address NTDs in a more sustainable and holistic way. Speaking at the launch of a new strategic plan for the Geneva-based Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) on Tuesday, […] Continue reading ->
CAPE TOWN – Johnson & Johnson (J&J) will deliver its COVID-19 vaccine to Africa from October after reaching an agreement with the African Union to supply the continent with up to 400 million doses over the next two years. However, Africa may still be struggling to obtain vaccine supplies for some months following last week’s decision […] Continue reading ->
Mayors from three capital cities in the global south have appealed for speedy “technology transfer” to enable them to produce their own COVID-19 vaccines at Friday’s World Health Organization (WHO) bi-weekly COVID-19 media briefing. The mayors’ appeal comes on the eve of a meeting next week between WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and […] Continue reading ->
IBADAN – African countries are hosting a large conference in April to discuss the local production of vaccines, as key players in Africa’s public health sector try to address the continent’s vaccine shortages. Circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution had necessitated this conversation, William Kwabena Ampofo, Chairperson of African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative, said […] Continue reading ->
COVID-19 has presented new risks to the African continent, with already limited financial resources needed to respond to climate hazards and natural disasters now being diverted to fight the pandemic. The pandemic has made it all the more challenging to ensure there is adequate disaster financing on the continent, and this now needs urgent attention, […] Continue reading ->
JOHANNESBURG –The death of Tanzanian President and COVID-19 skeptic John Magufuli has drawn decidedly mixed emotions – as tributes poured in from both average Tanzanians, as well as other African heads of state and world leaders. But Tanzanian opposition forces said that the president’s mysterious death was a chance for a reboot on both Tanzania’s […] Continue reading ->
Delayed Delivery Of Vaccines Procured By Africa CDC Threatens Timeline For Achieving ‘Herd Immunity’
Africa’s goal of achieving herd immunity against COVID-19 hangs in the balance as 270 million doses of vaccines are yet to arrive in the continent despite being secured three months ago by the African Union (AU) and African Centres for Diseae Control (ACDC). Mid-January 2021, Health Policy Watch reported that the Africa CDC had […] Continue reading ->
South Africa’s vaccination programme for health workers is inching forward, fuelled by small deliveries of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine every two weeks. However, overall supplies remain far short of the needs – even for the health sector. The country has an estimated 1.25 million health workers in public and private health to serve its […] Continue reading ->