Although Africa received the vaccines late, and in limited quantities alot of ground has been covered in that short time. More than 420,000 people in Ghana were vaccinated in just two weeks, this covers more than 60% of the target population.
Vaxzevria (formerly COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca) is a vaccine for preventing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in people aged 18 years and older. COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is made up of another virus (of the adenovirus family) that has been modified to contain the gene for making a protein from SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine does not contain the virus itself and cannot cause COVID-19. This vaccine though has been seen to have side effects such as blot clots in the brain and abdomen mostly in women 60years and above, this is said to be a result of the body’s immune system setup.
The AstraZeneca vaccine was 70 per cent effective against symptomatic COVID-19 infection in a large multinational study. (Source EMA).
There are other vaccines developed to combat this virus, such as the PFIZER VACCINE.
Name: BNT162b2
Manufacturer: Pfizer, Inc., and BioNTech
Type of Vaccine: mRNA
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 95% effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus with symptoms. This vaccine is for people age 16 and older. It requires two injections given 21 days apart. The second dose can be given up to six weeks after the first dose, if needed.
The second is the Moderna vaccine
Name: mRNA-1273
Manufacturer: ModernaTX, Inc.
Type of Vaccine: mRNA
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is 94% effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus with symptoms. This vaccine is for people age 18 and older. It requires two injections given 28 days apart. The second dose can be given up to six weeks after the first dose, if needed.
The next vaccine is the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine.
Name: JNJ-78436735
Manufacturer: Janssen Pharmaceuticals Companies of Johnson & Johnson
Type of Vaccine: Viral Vector
In clinical trials, this vaccine was 66% effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus with symptoms — as of 14 days after vaccination. The vaccine also was 85% effective at preventing severe disease with the COVID-19 virus — at least 28 days after vaccination. This vaccine is for people age 18 and older. It requires one injection.
22 Countries in Africa have received the vaccine in 14million doses. 10 countries have started the process of vaccination.
Angola kicked off covid-19 vaccination in Launda with it’s first batch of 624,000 delivered through COVAX.
Uganda received 964,000 doses.
Mozambique received it’s first batch of COVAX funded vaccines Maputa been the base location for the drop off of 384,000 doses.
Senegal received 324,000 Oxford-AstraZenaca vaccine.
Rwanda received 240,000 doses of this vaccine.
The target population for the vaccine are the health care workers, people over 60years and at risk population.
The covid-19 pandemic reminds us of how Valuable vaccines are to curb the spread of diseases that have terrible consequences. (Source UNICEF/CDC)