![handle is hein.crs/govehdk0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service
informing the legislative debate since 1914
Updated April 11, 2022
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Impact in Africa
As of April 2022, most countries in sub-Saharan Africa
(Africa) had emerged from a fourth COVID-19 wave-
primarily driven by the Omicron variant, first detected in
Botswana in late 2021-and were reporting relatively low
caseloads. Citing these trends and increased treatment
capacity in many countries, World Health Organization
(WHO) officials have expressed optimism that Africa can
control the pandemic in 2022. Officials caution, however,
that low vaccination rates may increase Africans'
vulnerability to future surges and could enable new variants
to emerge. Stating that logistical constraints and vaccine
hesitancy-versus raw supply-were now the foremost
obstacles to vaccination efforts, Africa Centres for Disease
Control (Africa CDC) Director Dr. John Nkengasong called
for a pause in new vaccine deliveries in February 2022.
Overall, Africa has seen fewer confirmed cases and deaths
per capita than other regions. Cases have been concentrated
in a few countries, led by South Africa (Figure 1), where
testing rates have also been higher. Studies suggest that
cases, and to a lesser extent mortality, have been
undercounted in much of Africa; demographic and other
factors may have limited the virus' toll. Ongoing research
seeks to assess COVID-19 comorbidity with diseases such
as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
Figure 1. Total Confirmed Cases and Deaths in Africa
asof 4/11/22
% of Cases
(Total cases: 7,980,894)
South
Africa 47%
Ethiopia 6%
Kenya 4%
Zc Zambia 4%
Bo tsana 3%
Other 36%
% of Deaths
(Total deaths: 169,072)
South
Africa 59%
Ethiopia 4%
Kenya 3%
Zimbabwe 3%
Sua 3%
__ ther 27%
Source: CRS graphic based on WHO COVID-19 Dashboard data.
Impact. COVID-19 has exacerbated health system
challenges in many African countries, disrupting routine
immunizations, diagnosis and treatment of other diseases,
maternal and child health care, and other health services.
The pandemic has intensified food insecurity (especially in
areas with conflicts or natural disasters) and prompted long
school closures without virtual options in some countries.
The initial economic impact in Africa was severe and
pushed tens of millions more people into extreme poverty,
according to the World Bank. The pandemic cratered global
demand and prices for Africa's oil and mineral exports,
disrupted trade and tourism, stemmed remittances from
African workers abroad, and prompted local lockdown
measures. Most African economies began to recover in
2021, buoyed in some cases by rising commodity prices,
but growth rates appear unlikely to reverse increases in
poverty and debt. The regional outlook remains uncertain.
Vaccination Efforts
Africa has the lowest average vaccination rate of any world
region (Figure 2). In at least 11 African countries
(including large countries such as Nigeria and the
Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC]), fewer than 10% of
the population had received at least one dose as of mid-
April 2022. Botswana and Rwanda, along with small island
states, lead the region in vaccinations, with over 60% of
their populations having received at least one dose.
Figure 2. Global Vaccination Rates by Region
At Least One Dose * Fully Vaccinated
Share of population
as of 4/11/22 0%ar 25%p 5% 75% 100%
Sub-Saharan Africa
East Asia & Pacific
Europe & Eurasia
Near Ea
South & Central Asia
Western Hemisphere
Source: CRS graphic based on WHO COVID-19 Dashboard data.
Notes: Regions follow State Department definitions.
African governments have obtained COVID-19 vaccines
via the multilateral COVAX initiative, direct purchases, and
bilateral donations. The United States is the largest country
donor of vaccines (see below) and has coordinated its
vaccine deliveries with COVAX and the African Union
(AU). The World Bank and Afreximbank, a regional trade
financing institution, have financed AU pooled purchases.
A shortage of vaccine doses was nonetheless a key obstacle
until recently. African countries, on average among the
world's poorest, generally lack vaccine production capacity
and were unable to compete with wealthier countries to
procure doses for much of 2021. A temporary vaccine
export ban in India (a major COVAX supplier), delays in
donor-pledged deliveries, donations of nearly expired
doses, and global supply chain constraints posed further
challenges. Several countries (notably South Africa,
Senegal, and Rwanda) are seeking to manufacture vaccines
locally, but intellectual property rights protections and
limited capacity have posed challenges. Some vaccine
production efforts are expected to take years to bear fruit.
Even as vaccine deliveries have accelerated in 2022, many
African countries face constraints in distributing and
administering shots at a mass scale. Key challenges include
ensuring sufficient trained health workers and supplies,](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/govehdk0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
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