The WHO is trying to ease the controversy over Covid-19 vaccines being exported from South Africa to Europe, a case revealed by the “New York Times”.
As the continent lags behind in vaccination and deliveries planned under the Covax initiative are slow, the New York Times revealed this week that millions of doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine packaged at the South African Aspen facility were reportedly sent to European countries, much criticism.
Johnson & Johnson has sent millions of vaccine doses dropped and packaged in South Africa to Europe, leaving South Africans, devastated by the Delta variant, waiting for most of the shots the country ordered. https://t.co/DvIuHpEv88
– The New York Times (@nytimes) August 16, 2021 In an online press conference yesterday, Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director of the WHO Regional Office for Africa, spoke on the subject and tried to calm down
There is a real movement to establish vaccine manufacturing centers in Africa
Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director, WHO Regional Office for Africa
“There are rich countries that have invested heavily in certain vaccines to reserve doses or production capacity in advance,” she explains. So I think what happened in South Africa is that an agreement signed in advance was respected. ”
However, Matshidiso Moeti prefers to see the positive side of this story, namely that African countries are joining the production of vaccines. “There is a real movement to set up vaccine manufacturing centers in Africa, and I am pleased to say that there are already concrete results in this direction. To establish a manufacturing center in South Africa first, but also in Rwanda soon. Egypt already produces vaccines, and we will witness the development of the capacity of the African countries in the manufacture of vaccines for Africa. “
Before we add: “Our role at WHO is to advocate in this direction and provide technical support. We are fully engaged in all ongoing discussions to establish these factories in Africa. ”
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