Africa is proving rocky ground for Russian and Chinese vaccines

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Russia and China are fighting to fill the gap in Africa’s COVID-19 vaccine, hoping to strengthen its influence on a continent where many countries have not yet delivered a single blow.

But so far, vaccine donations in Beijing and Moscow have been small, commercial transactions are costly, and some African governments are concerned about the lack of data.

As rich countries intensify their inoculation efforts, Africa, without the resources needed to pre-order Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, is left behind.

Given that Western nations are facing criticism for stockpiling, flooding Africa with rescue fires would be a coup for Russia and China.

Moscow has provided 300 million doses of funding to an African Union (AU) purchasing system.

Beijing has pledged nearly a quarter of its total vaccine donations to Africa, according to data compiled by Bridge Consulting, a Beijing health consultant.

“This is a living manifestation of China-Africa friendship,” China’s foreign ministry told Reuters.

“Africa is one of the key markets for Sputnik V,” said the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the sovereign wealth fund that sells its Sputnik V vaccine abroad.

French President Emmanuel Macron says Europe and the United States risk losing influence in Africa over the issue.

However, John Nkengasong, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Africa, warned against “vaccine diplomacy”, saying the powers should not use symbolic allocations to influence policies.

“Africa will refuse to be the playground where we use COVID as a tool for managing relationships,” he said at a webinar hosted by the Atlantic Council think tank in late February.

“It’s like trying to splash water on a very hot day on children … Then you can check the box that you did that,” he said. “That’s not what we’re looking for as a continent.”

While other developing regions have turned to Russia or China, in Africa their commitment has resulted in a few gunshots.

Africa received about 3.15 million photos from China – or less than 4% of its vaccine exports – Bridge Consulting data showed.

“The number of vaccines that China gives will not move the needle in any of these countries. But it’s just as much about optics, “said Eric Olander, co-founder of the China-Africa Project.

Russia has delivered a total of about 100,000 doses of vaccine to Algeria, Tunisia and Guinea.

Meanwhile, the global COVAX vaccine sharing scheme delivered nearly 15 million photos to 22 African countries in its first 10 days.

The World Health Organization-led unit, GAVI and others, aims to deliver 35 million doses to Africa by the end of the month and 720 million by the end of 2021.

This will only be enough to inoculate those most at risk.

DATA DEFICIENCY

The most important vaccines in China – from China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) and Sinovac – are not yet approved for emergency use by the WHO. The Russian Sputnik V vaccine is not either.

China has provided South Africa – the African nation most affected by the pandemic – with 2 million shots, its health minister said.

But a government official involved in the acquisitions told Reuters that the lack of data from the studies meant that Chinese vaccines had not been considered at the moment. Sputnik V was also downgraded to a second level of vaccines. South Africa says they need more education, according to the health ministry.

Even some countries that accepted donations avoided purchases.

Uganda has considered buying Chinese vaccines, but is focusing on COVAX because of their cost and data availability, said Ombeva Malande, director of the East African Vaccine and Immunization Center, which advised the government. Kenya is taking a similar line, he said.

Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary of the Ugandan Ministry of Health, said authorities would consider affordable vaccines approved by the WHO.

The head of the working group on vaccines in Kenya has confirmed that he has not been in talks to procure Chinese vaccines, and the health ministry’s plans do not include Russian vaccines.

DOLLARS AND DOSES

While COVAX photos are free for most African nations, countries that do commercial transactions pay a premium.

Senegal paid $ 20 per injection for 200,000 doses of Sinopharm, a two-injection vaccine.

“The worst thing that could happen now is for countries not to start vaccination,” said Tandakha Ndiaye Dieye, a member of Senegal’s vaccine advisory group, explaining the decision.

By comparison, the Serum Institute of India sells AstraZeneca photos that it produces for $ 3. The Indian government has also donated more than half a million of these shots to eight African countries, according to a Reuters report.

Beijing has so far not announced funding packages to make vaccination offers more accessible in Africa.

At about $ 10 per dose, Sputnik V is cheaper, and RDIF told Reuters that it would be even more competitive if it were subsidized by COVAX.

RDIF said it is in “advanced negotiations” with WHO to be included in COVAX and could offer a one-shot version to reduce costs. A spokesman for GAVI, the global vaccine alliance that helps lead COVAX, said all vaccines will be considered, but first need the approval of WHO or another strict regulator.

RDIF said some deliveries of the Sputnik V doses offered through the AU plan could begin in May.

A senior AU diplomat told Reuters that talks had taken place, but no agreement had been reached. No details about the financial package have been announced. RDIF did not answer Reuters’ questions about the potential deal.

Both China and Russia need to increase production if they hope to become major suppliers of vaccines worldwide. For Moscow, the export of photographs is politically sensitive when its own population still needs vaccination.

“I’m not worried about whether Russia will be able to administer the doses,” said W. Gyude Moore of the Center for Global Development, a Washington think tank.

“I am concerned about how African countries will pay for them … COVAX will not be enough.”