The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Africa has supported the use of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 even in countries that report variants of the disease.
“While a vaccine that protects against all forms of Covid-19 disease is our greatest hope, the prevention of severe cases and hospitalizations that overwhelm hospitals and health systems is crucial,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, regional director. WHO for Africa, briefing Thursday.
Africa’s second wave of Covid-19, which peaked in January, was more deadly than the first wave, according to Dr. Moeti. “Deaths have increased by 40% in the last 28 days compared to the last 28 days,” she noted.
The rising number of deaths on the continent has left health workers and health systems “dangerous to be over-stretched,” she said.
With the launch of vaccines, “if the cases remain largely mild and moderate and do not require critical care, then we can save many lives,” added Dr. Moeti.
In addition to the increase in deaths, Covid-19 variants are spreading across the continent, with seven other countries now reporting variant B.1.351, which was first detected in South Africa, including Ghana, Kenya, Comoros, Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia.
Two people who traveled from Tanzania to the UK turned out to be wearing the South African version, although Tanzania has not updated Covid-19 data since late April and denies the virus exists in the country.
Vaccines are not yet widely administered in Africa, but WHO expects substantial launches to begin in March.
Separately, the WHO has acknowledged two fatal cases in a new Ebola outbreak in North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where 200 contacts are being monitored.