African frontline workers remain ‘dangerously’ exposed to Covid

THE bulk of the workforce on the front line against the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa remain unprotected with only 27% of health workers fully vaccinated, says the World Health Organization (WHO).

“The majority of Africa’s health workers are still missing out on vaccines and remain dangerously exposed to severe Covid-19 infection. Unless our doctors, nurses and other frontline workers get full protection, we risk a blowback in the efforts to curb this disease. We must ensure our health facilities are safe working environments,” Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said.

Since March, 1.3 million health workers have been fully vaccinated, according to the analysis of data reported from 25 countries, with just six countries vaccinating more than 90% of them, while nine countries have fully vaccinated fewer than 40%.

In sharp contrast, a recent WHO global study of 22 mostly high-income countries reported that more than 80% of their health and care workers are fully vaccinated.

The WHO said Africa’s shortage of health workers was acute and profound, with only one country in the region having the required number of health workers (10.9 per 1 000 people) to deliver essential health services.

Sixteen countries in the region have fewer than one health worker per 1 000 people.

There have been more than 150 400 Covid-19 infections among health workers, accounting for 2.5% of all confirmed cases and 2.6% of the total health workforce in the region since March 2020.

Algeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe account for about 70% of the infections reported in health workers.

“For the first time since the third wave peaked in August, cases in southern Africa have increased, jumping 48% in the week ending on November 21 compared with the previous week. The risk of health-worker infection rises whenever cases surge. This is a pattern that has been observed during the previous three waves of the pandemic.

“With a fourth wave likely to hit after the end-of-year travel season, health workers will again face risks amid low vaccination coverage,” the WHO said.

Moeti said with a new surge in cases looming over Africa following the end-of-year festive season, countries must urgently speed up the rollout of vaccines to health-care workers.

To date, more than 227 million vaccine doses have been administered in Africa. In 39 countries which provided data, 3.9 million doses have been given to health workers.

The low coverage has been attributed to the availability level of vaccination services, especially in rural areas, as well as vaccine hesitancy.

Concerns over vaccine safety and the adverse side-effects of the vaccines have been identified as the main reasons for hesitancy.

“The Covid-19 vaccine stands among humanity’s extraordinary scientific feats.

“In Africa, we’re gradually overcoming supply constraints. Now is not the time to stumble over vaccine mistrust,” Moeti said.