African Nations Step Up Engagement With COVID-19 Vaccine Initiative

Posted by Eric Ojo African News, Featured, Latest Headlines, News Around Africa, North Africa Friday, September 4th, 2020

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – As the search for safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines gather momentum, African countries are signing up to a new initiative, which aims to secure at least 220 million doses of the vaccine for the continent, once licensed and approved.

All 54 countries on the continent have expressed interest in COVAX, a global initiative which is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The partners are working with governments and manufacturers to procure enough vaccine doses to protect the most vulnerable populations on the continent. This was disclosed on Thursday at a virtual press conference on COVID-19 vaccine access in Africa which was facilitated by APO Group.

Through the Gavi-coordinated COVAX Facility, the initiative seeks to ensure access for all. The higher and middle-income countries will self-finance their own participation, while and lower-middle income and low-income countries will have their participation supported by the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC).

In addition, 46 countries in Africa are eligible for support from the financing instrument, the COVAX AMC which has raised approximately US$ 700 million against an initial target of securing US$ 2 billion seed funding from high-income donor countries, as well as private sector and philanthropists by the end of 2020.

Through COVAX, vaccines that have passed regulatory approval or WHO prequalification will be delivered equally to all participating countries, proportional to their populations. Health workers and other vulnerable populations will be prioritized and then vaccine availability will expand to cover additional priority populations in participating countries.

Meanwhile, there are eight countries in Africa that have agreed to self-finance their vaccine doses through the COVAX Facility. This expression of interest will turn into binding commitments to join the initiative by 18 September, with upfront payments to follow no later than 9 October 2020.

Vice Minister for Health and Social Welfare of Equatorial Guinea, Hon Mitoha Ondo’O Ayekaba disclosed that Equatorial Guinea has signed up to COVAX, adding that it is the most effective way to ensure that its people can access COVID-19 vaccines.

“We are concerned as some wealthier countries have made moves to secure their own interests. We believe that through this initiative we can access successfully tested vaccines in a timely manner and at lower cost”, he said

Lending credence to this assertion, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti observed that COVAX is a ground-breaking global initiative which will include African countries and ensure they are not left at the back of the queue for COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr. Moeti noted that vulnerable people in Africa and other developing countries will be better protected by the decision of the partners to collaborate and work with governments and manufacturers globally.

“By reaching beyond the continent to work together with other governments and manufacturers on a global scale and pooling buying power, countries can protect the people most vulnerable to the disease in Africa”, she added.

CEPI is leading COVAX vaccine research and aims to develop up to three safe and effective vaccines which will be made available to countries participating in the COVAX Facility. Nine candidate vaccines are currently being supported by CEPI; two are currently being tested in South Africa, in addition to other regions around the world.

The Chief Executive Officer of CEPI, Dr. Richard Hatchett said it is critical that countries in Africa participate in vaccine trials, in addition to the clinical trials taking place in other regions of the world.

“Testing vaccines on the continent ensures that sufficient data is generated on the safety and efficacy of the most promising vaccine candidates for the African population so they can be confidently rolled out in Africa once vaccines are approved.

“CEPI is investing in the research and development of a diverse range of vaccine candidates, with the aim of delivering safe and effective vaccines to those who need them most through COVAX”, he further explained.

African countries will need to have in place the right systems and infrastructure to define the regulatory and ethical pathways for a quick approval of a candidate vaccine.

In addition, they are also expected to have logistics and supply chain systems which can reach not only the traditional target populations for routine immunizations and campaigns but be ready to vaccinate a much larger target population.

The Programme Area Manager, Immunization and Vaccine Development, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Dr. Richard Mihigo noted that to roll out a vaccine effectively across countries in Africa, it is critical that communities are engaged and understand the need for vaccination.

“It is important to already start working with communities to prepare the way for one of the largest vaccination campaigns Africa has ever experienced”, he stressed.