COVID-19 Vaccines: Finance Minister Worried over Logistics, Access

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has expressedconcernoverthemodalities in addressing access of COVID-19 vaccines in Africa.

She observed that the process had been difficult to navigate in view of the financing of vaccines for Africa andtheapproachtoaddressingaccess, deliveryanduptakeonthecontinent.

Speaking at a virtual high-level dialogueon‘FinancingC-19 Vaccines for Africa: A Whole of Africa

Approach to Addressing Vaccine Access, Delivery and Uptake,’ she raised issues bordering on the modalities.

It was the first Africa-led summit to be held in the COVID-19 era, whereAfrican organisations featured key world players to strategise and shape solutions with African leaders.

The meeting was convened by CONVINCE Africa and Wilton Park and brought together African ministers of finance and health with leaders of key multilateral institutions and senior representatives from the donor community to take a whole-of-Africa-led approach to financing access, delivery and uptake for COVID-19 vaccines for the continent.

Ahmed said: “What exactly are the existing mechanisms for countries to access? We have had bits and pieces of information, but to date, this has not been as coordinated as hoped.

“Understanding the urgency of the moment, there needs to be greater inclusion and involvement of finance ministers, as budgetary allocations need to be made and financing secured both locally and possibly internationally.”

Ahmed noted that against the backdrop of real time challenges in preparing for the receipt of COVID-19 vaccines, roll out, and the real time information and funding gaps, access to vaccine financing should be simplified, while an act of global solidarity should be to support finance ministries with the necessary capacity required to complete what could often be a complex and laborious bureaucratic process.