(5 Mar 2021) Rwanda on Friday began rolling out the Pfizer vaccine, becoming one of the first and only countries in Africa to do so.
The Pfizer vaccine needs storage at ultra-cold temperatures, making rollout complex in hot countries and rural areas.
Rwanda received the Pfizer vaccine via the global COVAX initiative, a mechanism that aims to ensure doses for the world’s low-and middle-income nations but has faced delays and limited supply.
It has already received 240,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and 102,960 Pfizer doses arrived Wednesday.
The health ministry said these first doses will target front-line workers, those above 65 and people with underlying health conditions.
Health Minister Daniel Ngamije said Rwanda’s goal is to vaccinate 30% of the population by the end of this year, and 60% by the end of 2022. Rwanda has recorded 19,111 cases and 265 deaths.
There have been urgent calls for COVID-19 vaccine fairness through African countries as more welcomed or began rolling out COVAX doses with officials acutely aware their continent needs much more.
The goal is that countries will be able to vaccinate 20% of their population with the COVAX doses by the end of this year.
This is far from the goal of 60% or more to achieve so-called "herd immunity" when enough people are protected through infection or vaccination to make it difficult for a virus to continue to spread.
The African Union is pursuing bulk deals for the continent, but that also has faced delays.
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