Key messages:

  • The impact of the ongoing pandemic on public health has showed the need for countries to work together. It is vital to increase access to and distribution of vaccines. It is the only way to sustainably contain COVID-19 and its variants, as envisaged in the UN Secretary-General’s “Our Common Agenda” report. 
  • To ensure equitable access to vaccines, countries in Africa must strengthen their primary health care systems by focusing on financing, preventative healthcare, human resources, and establishing integrated information systems and health technology. 
  • Many governments in Africa currently do not meet internationally recommended targets on national budget allocations to their health sectors, resulting in individuals bearing much of the financial burden of primary health care. 
  • To promote the local manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines, countries within Africa must invest in developing requisite infrastructures such as reliable electricity for cold chain vaccine storage. These countries can also explore the manufacturing of other ‘recommended vaccines’ for economies of scale to ensure sustainability. 
  • Strengthening the integration of national public health institutions with information systems and technology can aid the pandemic response in multiple ways, including facilitating the monitoring of vaccine doses to enhance efficiency and prevent waste. 

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