Key Sentence:
- The head of Africa’s health authority warned that Britain’s not receiving certificates for Covid-19 vaccines from the continent could increase vaccine turnover.
Dr. John Nkengasong said Britain’s position was confusing and African health had far-reaching implications for the vaccination campaign. He warned that if this were not accepted internationally, some would wonder why they should be hit. Many Africans are angry and call politics discriminatory.
There is also discontent in India, which produces most of the AstraZeneca vaccine African health sold in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. “We don’t understand why the UK is in this position,” said Dr. Nkengasong, head of the African Center for Disease Control. He said a news conference that it was “a message that confuses our population … creates more reluctance, reluctance for people to receive vaccines”.
He also asked why Britain sent vaccines to Africa but did not recognize those who vaccinated them as vaccinated. “This message is not really about solidarity and collaboration. Which we all believe as the foundation and material to get out of this pandemic together,” he said. Dr. Richard Mihigo of the World Health Organization’s Africa Region said countries must now find ways to develop reciprocal systems. That recognize vaccine certificates from different countries.
Last week the British government removed several countries from the so-called “red list,” which quarantines passengers when visiting the UK.
The rest of the UK – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – have their health guidelines. Initially, the UK refused to recognize the Indian-made AstraZeneca vaccine. Even though it was precisely the same as the European-made vaccine.
In Kenya, the British High Commission said it was working with local governments on a vaccine mutual recognition system. Less than 4% of Africans are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, compared to about 54% in the United States and 65% in the UK. Vaccine shortages are a problem in most African countries. Still, vaccine doubt is a huge problem in some countries, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa. And governments are trying to get more people on strike.