The United Nations has stated that 15 million vaccines have been shared among 26 African nations under the COVAX scheme, as of March 21, 2021.
This was disclosed by Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, during a virtual meeting with the African Group at the UN on Tuesday.
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What the UN Secretary-General is saying
“As I have said again and again, a COVID-19 vaccine must be a global public good available to everyone, everywhere. Vaccine equity is a moral test of global solidarity.
“We see many examples of vaccine nationalism and vaccine hoarding in wealthier countries, as well as continued side deals with manufacturers that undermine access for all.
“The world needs to unite to produce and distribute sufficient vaccines for all, which means at least doubling manufacturing capacity around the world,” Guterres said.
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Guterres also used the meeting to reiterate his appeal for debt relief for African countries to “ease the economic and social fallout of the crisis’’.
The organisation says more than $2 billion (N776 billion) is still needed under COVAX to fully meet its goal to vaccinate those most in need by the end of the year.
What you should know: COVAX is a UN-led initiative aimed at equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines.
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In case you missed it
- The first batch of the COVAX Astrazeneca/Oxford vaccines arrived in Nigeria on Tuesday, March 2021 via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
- The Vaccine rollout in Africa started with South Africa taking delivery of the first batch of Coronavirus vaccines (AstraZeneca) at the OR Tambo International Airport from India on February 1, 2021.
- Ghana has received the first shipment of Covid-19 vaccines from Covax on February 24, 2021.
