Former Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has described the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plan as disappointing and discouraging.
Sirleaf who co-chairs the World Health Organisation pandemic review said she’s highly disappointed with the roll-out plans which leaves African countries unable to benefit from the vaccines until 2022 or 2023.
“The panel is discouraged and frankly disappointed by the unequal plans for vaccine rollout,” the former Nobel Peace Prize winner was quoted to have told the Executive Committee of the WHO.
COVID-19 rollout plans and distribution have caused rising topics of a relegation of African countries to the backseat in the distribution.
Several bodies have raised concerns about attempts to sideline African countries in early distribution, with the rest of the world said to be earliest beneficiaries while African nations wait.
In the same vein, Tedros Gebreyessus, Director-General of the WHO said there may be a “catastrophic moral failure” if the lowest income countries of the world are abandoned in the vaccination plans.
“COVID19 vaccines are the shot in the arm we all need literally & figuratively. But the promise of equitable access is at serious risk.
39M+ doses have now been administered in at least 49 higher-income countries.
Just 25 doses have been given in one lowest-income country,” he said.
He also called for the prioritisation of the aged and health workers in the vaccination programme.
African countries are expecting vaccines through the WHO’s COVAX facility, with all but 20 countries of the world signifying interest.
Among those who are yet to agree are the United States, China and Russia.
Norway has however promised to supply vaccines to low-income countries of the world, many of which are in Africa.
