Africa races toward 70% vaccination goal despite low immunisation rates – WHO

Vaccination rates in Africa remain the lowest in the world, as the continent is “racing toward” the target of vaccinating 70 per cent of its population.

A statement by Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa said on Thursday.

According to the statement, one year since the COVAX Facility delivered the first COVID-19 vaccines to Africa, around 400 million doses have been administered, the continent’s largest-ever vaccine rollout in a single year.

However, vaccination rates in the continent were the lowest in the world, as only 13 per cent of Africans were fully vaccinated.

“18 countries have vaccinated less than 10 per cent of their population and three have vaccinated less than one per cent.

“29 countries have used less than 50 per cent of their vaccine stock, the global vaccine equity gap may be closing, but remain so much work to be done.

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“The COVAX looks forward to supporting countries further, providing targeted and tailored support where needed and ensuring supply matches countries’ needs as they work towards their vaccination targets,” said Aurelia Nguyen, Managing Director of the Office of the COVAX Facility.

In late 2021, WHO predicted that the African continent might not reach the target of vaccinating 70 per cent of its 1.3 billion population until the second half of 2024, while the goal remained to have 70 per cent coverage across the world by June 2022, according to the WHO vaccine strategy.

Countries had recognised this and were stepping up the pace rapidly as we raced toward the mid-2022 target of fully vaccinating 70 per cent of the world’s population. (Xinhua/NAN)