CDC Head Says Africa Needs Higher Vaccine Target

The Africa CDC has estimated that perhaps just 30% of Africa’s population can be vaccinated by the end of the year.

The director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is raising the vaccination target he believes is needed to provide widespread protection against COVID-19 on the continent, citing the more infectious Delta variant now present in 32 countries. Africa CDC Director John Nkengasong told reporters on Thursday that health officials once estimated at least 60% of Africa’s population of 1.3 billion people needed to be vaccinated to achieve so-called herd immunity. Nkengasong says he now thinks the proportion should be "in excess of 70% to 80%."