Astrazeneca Africa Head, Barbara Nel on vaccines manufacturing and distribution

Africa continues to face significant challenges in the vaccination process, with less than 10% of the population having received a vaccine so far. The majority of those vaccinated in Africa have received the AstraZeneca jab. In an exclusive interview with CNBC Africa, Barbara Nel, the Africa Region Head of AstraZeneca, shed light on the vaccine's efficacy, safety, and distribution process. Nel highlighted the World Health Organization's support for the AstraZeneca vaccine, citing its widespread reach in 170 countries globally, with nearly 600 million doses administered. In Africa, 38 countries have benefitted from the AstraZeneca vaccine through the COVAX initiative. Nel emphasized the importance of active surveillance to monitor the vaccine's safety profile and ensure its effectiveness in combating various strains, including the Delta variant. As the continent grapples with a surge in COVID-19 cases, exacerbated by the Delta variant, Nel acknowledged the pressing need for increased vaccine access in Africa. She highlighted recent efforts, such as donations from countries with excess vaccine supplies, to bridge the gap in vaccination coverage. Countries like Rwanda and Kenya have received donations of AstraZeneca vaccines, underscoring collaborative efforts to address the disparity in vaccine distribution. Nel reaffirmed AstraZeneca's commitment to working closely with COVAX and African governments to expand access to vaccines and raise awareness of the urgent need for vaccination across the continent. The discussion also touched upon the distinction between Covishield AstraZeneca and Vaxzevria AstraZeneca, with the former being supplied in Africa. Despite recent regulatory concerns, Nel reassured the public of the vaccine's quality, efficacy, and safety across different manufacturing sites globally. She emphasized the collaborative nature of AstraZeneca's vaccine production, involving partnerships with 20 experienced vaccine producers to ensure consistent quality standards regardless of the manufacturing location. Addressing the debate on intellectual property rights and technology transfer, Nel stressed the need for swift vaccine deployment to meet Africa's immediate needs. While acknowledging the importance of future considerations regarding IP rights, she highlighted the current focus on expediting vaccine distribution to save lives and combat the pandemic effectively. With ongoing efforts to scale up vaccine production and address supply chain challenges, AstraZeneca aims to ramp up vaccine availability in Africa and support the continent's vaccination drive. Nel's personal perspective resonated with a sense of urgency and moral responsibility to address the vaccine inequity in Africa. As a South African native, she empathized with the struggles faced by African communities in accessing vaccines. Looking ahead, Nel expressed optimism about the prospects of increased vaccine shipments to Africa in the coming months, following recent commitments from global summits and COVAX initiatives. With a pledge of 1.6 billion fully funded doses for low and middle income countries, including those in Africa, the trajectory for vaccine distribution in the region looks promising for 2021 and beyond.