Let Africa learn from Covid-19 and focus more on research

A Nurse prepares the Astra-Zeneca vaccine. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

Africa has received 1 per cent of the global supply of 1.3 billion Covid-19 vaccines. This is why the vaccine administration rates in Africa are comparatively lower (0.7 doses per 100 people) than other regions such as Europe (16 doses per 100 people) and North America (27 doses per 100 people).

Further, one in four people from high-income countries have been vaccinated, compared to one in 500 people from low-income countries, many of which are in Africa. The unfortunate reality is that should another pandemic hit the globe, Africa is likely to have the same predicament - receiving the short end of the bargain.