After months of severe shortages, Covid-19 vaccine supplies for the world’s poorest nations are finally ramping up. But many countries say they will struggle to get them into people’s arms, as they grapple with the potential delivery of more vaccines in the coming weeks than they have received so far this year.
Authorities lack funds to conduct public awareness campaigns and set up more vaccination sites, including the necessary fridges and freezers to store the shots. Misinformation and low case numbers have also left many in poor countries skeptical of the shots.
Some African governments have asked Covax to delay deliveries scheduled for the fourth quarter into the first quarter of 2022, [said Gavi executive Marie-Ange Saraka-Yao].
Others are urgently requesting extra financing from Gavi to open new vaccination sites in difficult-to-reach areas, pay healthcare workers to administer the shots and fund campaigns to fight misinformation and hesitancy.
A Gavi spokeswoman said doses are sent only to countries that are ready to receive them, and it is working with other agencies, including Unicef and the World Bank, to support countries with the necessary equipment and funding to expand their vaccination campaigns.
