Western countries, perhaps hit harder by the virus, but above all richer, are creating a traffic jam by securing, like Canada, enough vaccines for up to three times their population.
READ MORE South Africa new coronavirus variant rages alongside vaccine finance debate
In Africa, deliveries of the vaccines promised by the COVAX aid programme for developing countries are still behind. Faced with the urgent need to contain a second wave that is much more virulent than the first, notably with the South African variant, the AU is releasing funds and some countries are negotiating directly with foreign laboratories.
Vaccine diplomacy
At the end of December, the NGO Oxfam estimated that 70 poor countries would only be able to vaccinate one in ten inhabitants in 2021. Under these circumstances, China and Russia have once again shown themselves to be particularly attentive to the continent’s needs. As early as June, China’s number one, Xi Jinping, expressed his “generosity” at the China-Africa summit by promising African countries that they would benefit from advantageous conditions during the massive distribution of Chinese vaccines.
READ MORE Let’s call it… China’s won the vaccine diplomacy contest
Unlike Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, China and Russia pride themselves on having developed vaccines that are accessible, can be stored in the refrigerator (making them easier to send and store in poorer regions) and, above all, are available.
The majority of the Maghreb countries, due to these numerous advantages, have already ordered several million doses. But concerns about the real effectiveness of Chinese vaccines are growing and Russian deliveries are slow. AstraZeneca’s vaccine, produced by the Indian laboratory Serum Institute of India, is also planning to supply 200 million doses as part of the Covax.
Clinical trials
To stem the pandemic, which has already claimed two million victims worldwide, billions of dollars have been invested in the development of vaccines against Covid-19.
READ MORE Mo Ibrahim laments sorry state of Covid-19 vaccines access for Africa
Hundreds of laboratories have been working since March in search of the miraculous cure. In less than a year, taking into consideration that the average vaccine development time is usually twelve years, twelve vaccines have been approved for public use and marketed in limited quantities to some 20 countries.
READ MORE Collaboration needed to ensure accessibility of Covid-19 vaccines
Some, such as China and Russia, have skipped the classic stages of clinical trials, starting with phase III (large-scale tests on humans) without even completing phase II. This is what has enabled Moscow to claim first place in the “vaccine race” with its Sputnik V, announced in August 2020.
Vaccination champions
While millions of Americans and Chinese have already been given their famous injection and Israel is fast-approaching herd immunity, no country on the African continent has, to date, begun a real vaccination campaign.
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We believe that Africa is poorly represented, and badly under-estimated. Beyond the vast opportunity manifest in African markets, we highlight people who make a difference; leaders turning the tide, youth driving change, and an indefatigable business community. That is what we believe will change the continent, and that is what we report on. With hard-hitting investigations, innovative analysis and deep dives into countries and sectors, The Africa Report delivers the insight you need.