Afrigather Brazzaville – Africa is rising from the New Yr journey season with out a vital upsurge in COVID-19 for the primary time because the begin of the pandemic.
A complete of 20 552 new circumstances have been recorded within the first three weeks of January 2023, a 97% stoop in contrast with the identical interval final 12 months regardless of an uptick in circumstances in South Africa, Tunisia and Zambia over the previous two weeks. The drop in reported new circumstances could also be partially as a result of low COVID-19 testing charges, however of essential significance is that hospitalization for extreme sickness, in addition to deaths have diminished considerably. As of twenty-two January 2023, there have been 88 COVID-19-associated deaths reported within the area in contrast with 9096 in the identical interval 2022.
“For the primary time since COVID-19 shook our lives, January isn’t synonymous with a surge. Africa is embarking on the fourth 12 months of the pandemic with the hope of shifting previous the emergency response mode,” stated Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Well being Group (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “Nonetheless, with variants persevering with to flow into, it’s necessary that international locations keep alert and have measures in place to successfully detect and deal with any upsurge in an infection.”
In 2022, Africa witnessed no main pandemic peaks, with upsurges lasting a median of three weeks earlier than really fizzling out. In distinction, the continent skilled two pandemic waves pushed by extra transmissible and deadly variants in 2021.
With the gradual slowdown in circumstances over the previous 12 months, a low-level transmission of the virus is anticipated to proceed within the coming months with doable occasional upticks. It’s essential that international locations keep capacities to detect and reply successfully to any uncommon surges in circumstances.
Over the previous 12 months, whereas African international locations stepped up efforts to broaden vaccination, solely 29% of the continent’s inhabitants has accomplished the first sequence of vaccination as of twenty-two January 2023, up from 7% in January 2022. Nonetheless, vaccination amongst adults aged 18 years and above rose from 13% in January final 12 months to 47% at present.
Nonetheless, simply 4 international locations within the African area have vaccinated greater than 70% of their inhabitants, 27 have vaccinated between 10% and 39%, whereas 11 have reached between 40% and 70% of the inhabitants. Vaccination amongst high-risk populations has seen some progress, with 41% of well being staff totally vaccinated in 28 reporting international locations, and 38% of older adults in 23 international locations.
To additional improve protection, along with vaccination campaigns, you will need to combine COVID-19 vaccination into routine well being care providers that take the wants of probably the most weak into consideration. Up to now, 12 African international locations have began integrating COVID-19 vaccination as a part of common well being providers.
“Because the pandemic’s trajectory evolves, so ought to our method. We’re supporting international locations to arrange efficient methods to make sure that COVID-19 vaccines can be found, accessible and supplied for the long term,” stated Dr Moeti. “We all know from expertise that massive immunization gaps can present an ideal springboard for the resurgence of vaccine-preventable infections. Regardless that COVID-19 circumstances are falling the pandemic can take an surprising flip. However we will depend on vaccines to push back a catastrophic end result.”
COVID-19 vaccination stays essential in defending towards extreme sickness and loss of life, because the virus stays in circulation and continues to mutate.
In Africa, Botswana and South Africa are the one international locations to have detected the XBB.1.5 Omicron sub-variant, one of many sub-lineages with public well being implications. Genomic sequencing has slowed down as COVID-19 testing charges have declined. Over the previous week, simply three international locations met the WHO benchmark of 5 checks per 10 000 inhabitants per week in contrast with 25 in the identical interval in 2022.
Up to now this 12 months, 1896 sequences have been submitted. In the identical interval final 12 months 7625 sequences have been carried out. Sequencing is essential to preserving observe of variants in addition to serving to to mount well timed and efficient response.
Dr Moeti spoke immediately throughout a press convention. She was joined by Hon Wilhelmina Jallah, Minister of Well being, Liberia; and Professor Tulio de Oliveira, Centre for Epidemic Response & Innovation (CERI), Stellenbosch College, South Africa.
Additionally available from WHO Regional Workplace for Africa to reply questions have been Dr Thierno Balde, Regional COVID-19 Incident Supervisor; Dr Phionah Atuhebwe, Vaccines Introduction Medical Officer; and Dr Patrick Otim, Well being Emergency Officer, Acute Occasions Administration Unit.
