Coronavirus
In the context of supply issues, the African Union has abandoned plans to procure coronavirus vaccines from the Serum Institute in India and is now discussing possibilities with the U.S. Johnson & Johnson.
John Nkengasong, head of the African Disease Control Centers, said the sufficient supply of vaccine was crucial – and that export constraints by India is problematic for Africa.
He went on to say that the AU's decision had nothing to do with the potential connection to blood clots in some rare cases surrounding the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
He stressed that the AstraZeneca vaccine will still be distributed to Africa through the UN's Covax program.
Nkengasong claimed that the AU had already signed a contract with Johnson & Johnson for up to 400 million single dose vaccines.
02:05
WHO's 194 member countries struggle to draft a pandemic treaty
00:30
Nigeriens getting vaccinated against Meningitis as epidemic death toll climbs
Go to video
AstraZeneca withdraws its Covid-19 vaccine from sale
Go to video
New form of mpox that may spread more easily found in Congo's biggest outbreak
01:15
Africa: About 51 million lives saved through immunization programme - WHO
01:13
WHO approves new cholera vaccine that could help fight surge in cases