US TEAM UP WITH GAVI ALLIANCE TO PROVIDE VACCINES TO AFRICA

Fri 16 July 2021:

The Biden administration has teamed up with the African Union and the Gavi Alliance, formerly known as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, to provide 25 million coronavirus vaccine doses for the people of Africa, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday.

“The United States, working with the African Union and Gavi is sharing 25 million COVID-19 vaccines with the peoples of Africa to save lives and build a safer, more secure world for all,” Blinken said via Twitter message.

The vaccine doses will be delivered through COVAX mechanism to 49 countries in the coming weeks, Blinken said.

The GAVI Alliance is a global health partnership of public and private sector organizations dedicated to immunization for all.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Africa has recorded a 43% week-on-week rise in COVID-19 deaths, as hospital admissions increase rapidly and countries face shortages in oxygen and intensive care beds.

Deaths also peaked at 6 273 in the week ending on 11 July from 4 384 in the previous week.

“Africa is now less than 1% shy of the weekly peak reached in January when 6 294 deaths were recorded.”

In addition, the WHO said Namibia, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zambia accounted for 83% of the new fatalities recorded in the past week.

The continent’s case fatality rate, which is the proportion of deaths among confirmed cases, currently stands at 2.6% against the global average of 2.2%.

The organisation said the deaths topped six million on 13 July.

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