Rollout of First Covid-19 Vaccine Doses Under Way Across Africa

Covax has delivered its first Covid-19 vaccine doses in a milestone for the ambitious programme that seeks to support the development of vaccines and ensure their equitable distribution. The vaccines and other equipment are being transported across the world by Unicef as part of the efforts by the Covax Facility to ensure equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines. Covax is led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), with Unicef leading on procurement and delivery of vaccines. It is the only global initiative that is working with governments and manufacturers to ensure Covid-19 vaccines are available worldwide to both higher-income and lower-income countries. As of March 1, confirmed cases of Covid-19 from 55 African countries reached 3,897,307. Reported deaths in Africa reached 103,706 and 3,469,842 people have recovered.