ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) — Some 53 African countries have acquired about 114 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines so far, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said in the latest weekly briefing on Thursday.
The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the African Union, said around 1.75 percent of Africa’s population have been fully vaccinated.
Some 77.3 million of the total 114 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far, the Africa CDC said.
Five countries, namely Morocco, South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, and Tunisia have acquired and administered the most doses of COVID-19 vaccines to their respective populations, according to the agency.
As of Thursday afternoon, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa had reached 7,136,140, with 179,986 deaths and 6,217,218 recoveries, according to the agency.
Meanwhile, The Pan Afrikanist reports that Botswana received her first consignment of 108, 000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Thursday 12th August 2021. Vice President Slumber Tsogwane and Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness Sethomo Lelatisitswe were on hand to receive the consignment at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.
Earlier in the week the country also received 38, 400 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, which according to the Health Minister Dr. Edwin Dikoloti will inoculate those who did not get their second jab in the last round of vaccination.