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As efforts to find a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19 show increasingly promising, the African continent is “far from ready” to implement what will be its largest immunization campaign, the World Organization of the Health (WHO).
Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, highlighted the importance of sound planning and preparation for successful inoculations against COVID-19.
“The largest immunization campaign in African history is just around the corner, and African governments must urgently accelerate preparation. Planning and preparation will make or break this unprecedented effort, ”he said.
“We need active leadership and involvement from the highest levels of government with strong and comprehensive national coordination plans and systems in place,” added Dr. Moeti.
The call came when a new WHO analysis revealed that the preparation of the vaccination program in Africa is lagging behind.
According to the analysis, based on the countries’ self-report, the African region has an average score of 33% readiness for the deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is well below the desired benchmark of 80%.
WHO, together with Gavi, Vaccine Alliance, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation and other partners, is working to ensure equitable access to vaccines in Africa through the COVAX facility, the vaccine pillar of the WHO Access Accelerator to COVID-19 tools. When vaccines are licensed and approved, COVAX will work to ensure sufficient doses to provide protection for an initial 20 percent of the African population, the WHO said.
However, only 49% have identified priority populations for vaccination and have plans to reach them, 44% have coordination structures, according to a WHO analysis. Additionally, 24% have adequate resource and funding plans, 17% have data collection and monitoring tools in place, and only 12% have plans to communicate with communities to build trust and drive demand for immunization.
Dr. Moeti stressed that the development of a safe and effective vaccine “is only the first step to a successful implementation.”
“If the communities are not on board and are not convinced that a vaccine will protect their health, we will make little progress. It is essential that countries reach out to communities, listen to their concerns and give them a voice in the process, “he added.
WHO has provided its Vaccine Readiness Assessment Tool to all 47 countries in its African Region. The Tool, for use by Ministries of Health, provides a roadmap for planning the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine and covers ten key areas, from planning and financing, to training, monitoring and community participation.
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