COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination: how prepared is Africa?

Ariyo, Olumuyiwa Elijah; Oladipo, Elijah Kolawole; Osasona, Oluwadamilola Gideon; Obe, Olumide; Olomojobi, Folakemi

The approval of vaccines for emergency use signifies a great milestone to end the COVID-19 pandemic. However, less than 2% of the global vaccines have been administered in Africa, putting the continent in a precarious situation in the eventuality of another wave that may consume its health system. There is still an enormous task in Africa in the face of vaccine nationalism. In most countries, vaccine acquisition and deployment have been suboptimal. Leaving out Africa in the race to achieve global herd immunity may be catastrophic. Stakeholders must continue engagement to ensure a successful deployment of the vaccines on the continent. There is a need to build capacity in Africa for rapid vaccine development and deployment in the long term.