Africa disease control head calls on rich nations to share excess COVID-19 shots

By Omar Mohammed
NAIROBI, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Countries that have ordered more
COVID-19 vaccines than they need should consider distributing
excess doses to Africa, the head of the continent's disease
control body said on Thursday.
As African countries begin to feel the effects of a second
wave of the coronavirus pandemic, John Nkengasong, director of
the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
said it was unlikely to secure enough vaccine shots.
Many African states are relying on COVAX, a global COVID-19
vaccine allocation plan co-led by the World Health Organization
(WHO), which is working to lower prices and discourage hoarding.
"Some countries have got like three times to four, five
times more than what they need," Nkengasong told a news
briefing, adding that those can help poorer ones kickstart
vaccination programmes to protect their citizens.
He did not name any states.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly called on
governments to make a vaccine protecting against COVID-19 a
"public good". Britain became the first Western nation to begin the
mass-vaccination of its population against COVID-19, and other
countries, such as Canada and the United States, may also do the
same in the next few weeks. The United Nations should convene a special session to
discuss ways that will ensure an equitable distribution and
access to vaccines, Nkengasong said.
The African Union-owned CDC organisation is working with the
Afreximbank and the World Bank to figure out how to raise funds
for the procurement of the vaccines needed for the continent.
In October, Nkengasong said Afreximbank was ready to raise
up to $5 billion to purchase COVID-19 vaccines.
Cases and deaths were rising in Africa, Nkengasong said,
adding that more vigilance, particularly mask wearing and social
distancing, was needed as end-of-year holidays approached,
"The second wave is here," he said.

(Editing by Duncan Miriri and Alexander Smith)