Ivory Coast becomes second country to receive COVAX vaccines

ABIDJAN: Ivory Coast received a shipment of COVID-19 doses from the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility on Friday, becoming the second country to benefit from a programme meant to ensure fairer distribution amid a global scramble.

A plane carrying 504,000 doses touched down in the commercial capital Abidjan, paving the way for the West African nation to launch a vaccination campaign.

By the end of this year, COVAX plans to deliver nearly 2 billion doses to over 90 low- and middle-income countries, hoping to level a playing field that has seen wealthier nations vaccinate millions while comparatively few have received shots in poorer parts of the world.

The first batch was delivered to Ghana on Wednesday.

The plan should provide coverage for up to 20% of countries' populations. But it will not be enough to reach herd immunity and effectively contain the virus, forcing African countries to also look to bilateral agreements, donations and an African Union procurement plan.

And while many countries will receive the COVAX shots for free, they have to pay for distribution and community outreach.

"You want to make sure that the right regulatory approval, the right cold storage is there and everything else, otherwise you risk having things not work," said Seth Berkley, chief executive of the GAVI vaccines alliance, which leads COVAX with the World Health Organization and other partners.

Ivory Coast, population 25 million, has recorded around 35,650 coronavirus cases and 188 deaths.

In Abidjan, some residents were sceptical about the vaccination drive.

"It's the rich and their families who will get vaccinated," said 40-year-old vegetable-seller Seydou Kamagate, as customers at his stall nodded in agreement. "I don't think my family and I will ever get a vaccine."

Africa's reported COVID-19 death toll surpassed 100,000 last week, much less than other continents but rising fast as a second wave of infections overwhelms under-equipped hospitals.