The mission feels especially urgent, he said, as vaccinations begin in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. Public health officials warn that stark disparities are emerging as wealthier countries reserve most of the world’s doses, while poorer countries have secured scarce amounts.

Ending outbreaks in resource-strapped areas is vital to crushing the coronavirus for good, they say: As long as the contagion exists somewhere, it can continue to seed and circulate.

Distribution campaigns across Africa are not likely to begin until April, the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated. Even then, far fewer doses will be sent to African countries than are being shipped to the United States and Europe.

“It will be extremely terrible to see,” said John Nkengasong, the Africa CDC director.

“Africa is often holding the short end of the stick,” said Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, deputy director of the Africa CDC.

There was no evidence of direct …continued .
[Source: Washington Post]