Anti-COVID-19 vaccine to be available in Africa on large scale by 2023: WHO

CAIRO – 19 January 2021: The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that anti-COVID-19 will be available on a large scale in Africa by 2023 given that most purchases are made by high-income countries.

Al Arabiyah reported the statements of the organization's director-general Tedros Adhanom during a board meeting citing BBC. The international official indicated that 39 million doses were distributed in 49 high-income states. Meanwhile, one of the low-income countries received just 25 doses.

The countries that developed vaccines are prioritizing their peoples, Adhanom said. Those are the United States, the United Kingdom, China, India, and Russia.  

"The world is on the verge of a moral catastrophic failure that will undermine lives and living conditions in poor countries," the WHO director-general showcased adding that the "me first" attitude will be destructive because it will push the prices of the vaccines upward.

"At the end of the day, those acts will just prolong the duration of the pandemic, the restrictions imposed, and the human and economic suffering," Adhanom underlined demanding countries to abide by the COVAX Facility which will go into effect in February.   

As indicated on the WHO website, "64 higher income economies have joined the COVAX Facility, a global initiative that brings together governments and manufacturers to ensure eventual COVID-19 vaccines reach those in greatest need, whoever they are and wherever they live."