Eight African countries are already in their fifth wave of the pandemic and the continent has “hit the important milestone” of more than 10-million Covid-19 infections said Dr John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, on Thursday.
Covid-19 deaths have been lower in the steeper and briefer Omicron-driven fourth wave than previous waves, but they still soared over the festive season, bringing the total number of people who have died to more than 223,000 this week.
Deaths rose on average by a third (33%) in the four weeks to January 9, and Nigeria was the worst affected with a 299% average increase, the Africa CDC chief reported. In the past seven days, deaths jumped by nearly two thirds (64%) compared to the week before, according to the latest report by the World Health Organisation Africa region.
Both health agencies made it clear that deaths were primarily among those who were not vaccinated — roughly 90% of Africans — and who were also at high risk.
The more vulnerable populations, the elderly and immune-compromised, would benefit from booster vaccines but the priority was to get as many people as possible to have their first jab, said Nkengasong.
“We cannot recommend generalised boosting when only 10% of the population is fully vaccinated,” he said.
WHO AFRO regional director Dr Matshidiso Moeti also stressed the need for scaling up people’s first vaccinations as widely as possible.
The crucial pandemic countermeasure badly needed in Africa still stands, and that is rapidly and significantly increasing Covid-19 vaccinations. The next wave might not be so forgiving.
— WHO AFRO regional director, Dr Matshidiso Moeti
“The crucial pandemic countermeasure badly needed in Africa still stands, and that is rapidly and significantly increasing Covid-19 vaccinations. The next wave might not be so forgiving,” she said.
During 2021 the continent was desperately short of vaccine doses and that supply crisis has abated, yet vaccinations still need to be become more accessible to people and delivered effectively to remote areas.
Dr Abdou Salam Gueye, WHO AFRO director of emergency preparedness and response, reported that in 2022 countries that needed vaccines would receive them and there would be enough.
“The problem will be, what we are doing to operationalise vaccines in countries, including taking them to the subregions,” he said.
“People may believe Africa does not want to be vaccinated but recently the World Bank found that more than 80% of the population were demanding vaccinations and accepting vaccines when offered.”
On treatment, the Africa CDC is in close discussions with Pfizer to get its antiretroviral treatment drugs “available and accessible on the continent”, said the Africa CDC chief.
The highly infectious Omicron variant (reported in 39 countries to date) is now dominant on the continent, where the northern, western and eastern regions are now experiencing a steep surge in new cases.
Cases are dropping in Southern Africa, where SA drives the curve.
Testing remains a priority for Africa’s public health agencies. Nkengasong said access to soccer stadiums for the Africa Cup of Nations, currently taking place in Cameroon, was conditional on testing — taking place nearly every day among players — and vaccinations.
Nkengasong said: “I do not know of any countries where, if people want to get vaccinated, they would not get a vaccine. My advice to the population on the continent is to get vaccinated, so that it becomes unnecessary for governments to impose mandatory vaccinations.”
“Please do not be complacent and please do not relax,” he urged the people of Africa. “Severe lockdowns are not the solution but certain restrictions must continue like wearing masks.
“The only way to relieve Africa from this burden is to vaccinate quickly. Scale up vaccinations, expand testing and make sure treatment is available.”
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