WHO Africa Chief Warns that COVID-19 Booster Shots Threaten Continent’s Ability to Fight the Pandemic

COVID booster vaccines have gained traction in several countries – US, Israel, Germany, UK, and others, but low- and middle-income countries lag significantly behind in shots.

 

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As the Delta variant spreads across Africa and with the anticipation of a fourth COVID-19 wave later this year, the World Health Organization’s Africa head has called out rich countries that are now offering booster vaccine shots – even as much of the continent’s population waits for their chance at the first shot.

WHO regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, on Tuesday warned that moves by some wealthy countries to introduce booster shots threaten the African continent’s ability to fight the devastating pandemic. Richer countries should share their vaccine supplies with low-income countries instead of hoarding the drugs, she told delegates at the 71st Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa’s virtual meeting on public health in Africa.

The COVID-19 vaccine roll-out had demonstrated the huge gaps in international solidarity, said Moeti. “We believe the priority should be for the most oppressed populations in all countries to be fully vaccinated. To have the greatest impact in curbing transmission, saving lives, and bringing about an end to this pandemic, as quickly as possible,” she said, adding that 75% of vaccine doses globally had been administered in just 10 countries.

The United States, Israel, United Kingdom and Germany are among a growing number of wealthy countries planning to offer COVID-19 booster shots to their populations from September. This, at a time when some of the world’s poorer nations are struggling to get even one jab of the life-saving vaccines into their peoples’ arms.

“High-income countries have administered 62 times more doses than low-income countries, potentially worsening this divide,” warned Moeti, stressing that: “We’ve advocated for wealthy countries to share their doses.”

Moeti was echoing the call by WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who last week again fiercely denounced the booster policies. “The divide between the haves and have nots will only grow larger if manufacturers and leaders prioritize booster shots oversupply to low- and middle-income countries,” Dr Tedros said.

The director-general had previously warned that diverting global vaccine supplies to boosters could foster the spread of dangerous variants in vaccine-poor countries elsewhere.

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