NAIROBI:  Dimming hopes of containing the pandemic in the continent, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Thursday that, nine out of ten African countries could miss the target of vaccinating 10 percent of their population against Covid-19 by September.

WHO regional director for Africa Mr. Matshidiso Moeti, said that nearly 90 percent or 47 out of 54 African countries are off-track in terms of inoculating 10 percent of their population against the virus in the next three months even as they grapple with surging infections. "As we close in on five million cases and the third wave in Africa looms, many of our most vulnerable people remain dangerously exposed to COVID-19," Moeti said in a statement.

Moeti said that Africa required 225 million doses to achieve the 10 percent vaccination target, adding that the continent is banking on donations and replenishing the COVAX facility to ramp up inoculation targeting high-risk groups.

Statistics from African Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) indicate the continent had acquired 54.9 million vaccine doses and administered 35.9 million as of June 7. According to Africa CDC, the top five African countries that have led in COVID-19 vaccination include Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa.

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