On Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Council of Nurses (ICN) stated that only 15 of the Africa’s 54 countries have fully vaccinated 10% of their populations against COVID-19. They asked for speeding up distribution of doses to those at risk on the continent amid what the WHO called “opaque delivery plans” and “bottlenecks” in the rollout of vaccines in Africa.
The WHO had called for vaccinating at least 10% of health workers in every country by September 30 – a target reached by nearly 90% of high-income countries. Half of the 52 African countries that have received COVID-19 vaccines have fully vaccinated just 2% or less of their populations.
Howard Catton, chief executive officer of the Geneva-based ICN told that analysed data from nine African countries showed that approximately a third of health workers were still waiting for their first dose of vaccine and only about 10% have been fully vaccinated. He stated, “Despite the promises, we rea not seeing the delivery and this is a health and a human rights crisis. Today nurses and health workers are still going to work knowing that they are at higher risk but not having the protection of vaccine.”
He added, “In the meantime, some rich countries are already administering booster shots and vaccines to youth. You know, we have just seen a billionaire send a healthcare worker into space, yet, here on Earth, we have millions of healthcare workers still waiting to be vaccinated. They should not have to wish on star for a vaccine, they should be prioritized.”
