Next Africa: Vaccines, war and oil

[Deeq A.]

The trajectory of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2022 might depend on the ability of rich nations to make vaccines available to sub-Saharan Africa. 

The rest of the world has so far failed Africa miserably. The Democratic Republic of Congo –- a country the size of Western Europe –- has barely begun a vaccination program. In Nigeria, the continent’s most populated nation, just 1% have been fully inoculated. At the current pace it will take until August 2024 for African countries to reach the 70% mark, the World Health Organization’s target for controlling the pandemic.

The region needs 1.6 billion more doses to reach that critical level. And it’s not just vaccines. UNICEF is asking G-20 nations to help train health workers to ensure doses are safely stored and transported, while availability of syringes is another challenge.

A nurse draws out the Sinopharm vaccine from its tube in Zimbabwe. Photographer: Tafadzwa Ufumeli/Getty Images Europe

African governments also need to ensure take up. Vaccine mandates have a part to play but incentives are also needed –- for farmers in remote Nigeria to artisanal miners in Congo –- to travel to the nearest center. 

It can be done. India, the world’s second-most populated nation, has administered 1.4 billion doses. Until vaccine coverage in Africa accelerates, countries such as Japan, Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. won’t be safe from future mutations. The next variant may be deadlier than delta or omicron and travel bans won’t stop its spread.

Source: Bloomberg 

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