Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic across Africa : current status of vaccinations and implications for the future

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Ogunleye, Olayinka O. and Godman, Brian and Fadare, Joseph O. and Mudenda, Steward and Adeoti, Adekunle O. and Yinka-Ogunleye, Adesola F. and Ogundele, Sunday O. and Oyawole, Modupe R. and Schönfeldt, Marione and Rashed, Wafaa M. and Galal, Ahmad M. and Masuka, Nyasha and Zaranyika, Trust and Kalungia, Aubrey C. and Malande, Oliver O. and Kibuule, Dan and Massele, Amos and Chikowe, Ibrahim and Khuluza, Felix and Taruvinga, Tinotenda and Alfadl, Abubakr and Malik, Elfatih and Oluka, Margaret and Opanga, Sylvia and Ankrah, Daniel N. A. and Sefah, Israel A. and Afriyie, Daniel and Tagoe, Eunice T. and Amu, Adefolarin A. and Msibi, Mlungisi P. and Etando, Ayukafangha and Alabi, Mobolaji E. and Okwen, Patrick and Lum Niba, Loveline and Mwita, Julius C. and Rwegerera, Godfrey M. and Kgatlwane, Joyce and Jairoun, Ammar A. and Ejekam, Chioma and Mevenyengwa, Rooyen T. and Murimi-Worstell, Irene and Campbell, Stephen M. and Meyer, Johanna C. (2022) Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic across Africa : current status of vaccinations and implications for the future. Vaccines, 10 (9). 1553. ISSN 2076-393X (https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10091553)

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Abstract

The introduction of effective vaccines in December 2020 marked a significant step forward in the global response to COVID-19. Given concerns with access, acceptability, and hesitancy across Africa, there is a need to describe the current status of vaccine uptake in the continent. An exploratory study was undertaken to investigate these aspects, current challenges, and lessons learnt across Africa to provide future direction. Senior personnel across 14 African countries completed a self-administered questionnaire, with a descriptive analysis of the data. Vaccine roll-out commenced in March 2021 in most countries. COVID-19 vaccination coverage varied from low in Cameroon and Tanzania and up to 39.85% full coverage in Botswana at the end of 2021; that is, all doses advocated by initial protocols versus the total population, with rates increasing to 58.4% in Botswana by the end of June 2022. The greatest increase in people being fully vaccinated was observed in Uganda (20.4% increase), Botswana (18.5% increase), and Zambia (17.9% increase). Most vaccines were obtained through WHO-COVAX agreements. Initially, vaccination was prioritised for healthcare workers (HCWs), the elderly, adults with co-morbidities, and other at-risk groups, with countries now commencing vaccination among children and administering booster doses. Challenges included irregular supply and considerable hesitancy arising from misinformation fuelled by social media activities. Overall, there was fair to reasonable access to vaccination across countries, enhanced by government initiatives. Vaccine hesitancy must be addressed with context-specific interventions, including proactive programmes among HCWs, medical journalists, and the public.

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