MORE than half of Africa’s population must be vaccinated against Covid-19 in the next two to three years to avoid an epidemic, the continent’s top public health official has warned. 

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) director John Nkengasong said today that if it takes four to five years, “the virus will be endemic in our communities.”

Mr Nkengasong said the 60 per cent vaccination target was needed to achieve herd immunity in Africa’s 54 countries.

Health officials are concerned that the continent of 1.3 billion people will be near the end of the line in obtaining doses. 

Mr Nkengasong pushed back against fears and misinformation around vaccines, claiming that “if I had my way today to take a flight to the UK and get that vaccine, I would be doing it right now.” 

He also vowed that “no substandard vaccines will be in use in Africa.” 

The continent cannot afford to do country-by-country regulatory approval, Mr Nkengasong added.

Instead, the Africa CDCP is offering a platform where national regulatory bodies can agree on a mechanism to approve any vaccines that come to the continent, he said.