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ADDIS ABABA, Dec.31 (Xinhua) – Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa) director John Nkengasong said Thursday that he anticipates that most African countries will start receiving COVID vaccines. -19 for the second half of 2021.
“2020 was a difficult year, but we believe that through collaborative efforts and global solidarity, we can turn the corner of disease on the African continent in 2021 by taking advantage of access to COVID-19 vaccines,” Nkengasong said at a virtual press conference.
“African states should be actively prepared to vaccinate large numbers of people quickly and reach all corners of the continent, when they finally receive COVID-19 vaccines,” he said.
The CDC Africa director called on African countries and the public to continue to implement precautionary measures against COVID-19.
“We appeal at the continental level for the need to exercise discipline, cooperation and political leadership to keep COVID-19 at bay,” said Nkengasong.
Nkengasong also called on the international community to help the continent, which is dealing with a second wave of the pandemic, to receive COVID-19 vaccines in a timely manner.
Noting that Africa recorded 154,000 new COVID-19 cases and 3,500 deaths in the past week, Nkengasong urged vigilance against the spread of the disease across the continent.
As of Thursday afternoon, the African continent registered 2,727,345 cases of COVID-19, with a death toll that reached 64,760. Final product
