Third Wave Sweeps Across Africa as Scarce Vaccine Supplies Run Out

A member of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) holds a sign during a march on Friday for vaccines from Russia and China to be supplied to South Africans. PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP

A number of countries throughout Africa are exhausting their limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines just as a devastating third wave of the virus sweeps across the continent.

Africa is by no means alone. Dozens of developing countries in other parts of the world face a similar predicament. “Well over half of countries have run out of stock and are calling for additional vaccines,” said Bruce Aylward, an advisor to the World Health Organization. “But in reality it’s probably much higher,” he added.

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by Eric Olander

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