Africa’s top health official slams unequal distribution of Covid-19 vaccines

Africa’s top health official slams unequal distribution of Covid-19 vaccines

Africa's top health official slammed the unequal distribution of Covid-19 vaccines,  warning that the continent of 1.3 billion people might not receive any vaccinations until April next year.

Dr John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said it was a “moral issue” and called on developed countries to “show global cooperation” and “global solidarity.”

He urged the United Nations to put forward a special session to avoid “North-South distrust in respect to the vaccine.” He made his pleas as charities warn that richer nations are "hoarding" Covid-19 vaccines.

The UK rolled out Covid-19 vaccinations this week as the first Western nation to use the clinically approved Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The US has said it may be able to vaccinate around 10 million people this month if the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are authorised by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Dr Nkengasong said that rich countries had purchased “in excess of their needs while we in Africa are still struggling with the Covax facility.”

A report released by the People's Vaccine Alliance on Wednesday estimated that around 90 per cent of the people in poorer countries will not be vaccinated next year. Around 70 poor countries will only be able to vaccinate