Africa proves rocky terrain for Russian and Chinese vaccines

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Russia and China are racing to fill the COVID-19 vaccine gap in Africa, hoping to consolidate their influence on a continent where many countries have yet to administer a single injection.

But so far, vaccine donations from Beijing and Moscow have been small, the trade deals they offer are expensive and some African governments are concerned about the lack of data.

As rich countries increase their inoculation initiatives, Africa, without the resources to pre-order vaccines Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, is lagging behind.

With Western nations facing criticism for accumulating supplies, flooding Africa with life-saving shots would be a mild blow to Russia and China.

Moscow offered 300 million doses with funding for an African Union (AU) purchase scheme.

Beijing has pledged almost a quarter of all of its vaccine donations to Africa, according to data compiled by Bridge Consulting, a Beijing-based health sector consultancy.

“This is a vivid manifestation of China-Africa friendship,” China’s Foreign Ministry told Reuters.

“Africa is one of the main markets for Sputnik V,” said the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the sovereign fund that markets its Sputnik V vaccine abroad.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that Europe and the United States are at risk of losing influence in Africa on the issue.

However, John Nkengasong, head of the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned against “vaccine diplomacy”, saying that the powers should not use symbolic allocations to attract political influence.

“Africa will refuse to be the playing field where we use COVID as a tool to manage relationships,” he said in a webinar organized by the Atlantic Council think tank in late February.

“It’s like you’re trying to spray water on a very hot day for children … So you can check the box you made,” he said. “This is not what we are looking for as a continent.”

While other developing regions have turned to Russia or China, in Africa their engagement has translated into few gunfire.

Africa received about 3.15 million vaccines from China – or less than 4% of its vaccine exports – show data from Bridge Consulting.

“The number of vaccines that China is donating will not touch the needle in any of these countries. But it is much more about optics, ”said Eric Olander, co-founder of the China-Africa Project.

Russia sent a total of about 100,000 doses of vaccines to Algeria, Tunisia and Guinea.

The global COVAX vaccine sharing scheme, in turn, distributed nearly 15 million vaccines in 22 African countries in the first 10 days.

The facility co-led by the World Health Organization, GAVI and others aims to send 35 million doses to Africa by the end of the month and 720 million by the end of 2021.

That will still be just enough to inoculate those most at risk.

DATA DEFICIT

China’s main vaccines – from the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) and Sinovac – have not yet been approved for emergency use by the WHO. Neither does Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.

China offered South Africa – the African country hardest hit by the pandemic – 2 million vaccines, said its health minister.

But a government official involved in procurement told Reuters that the lack of test data means that Chinese vaccines are not being seriously considered for the time being. Sputnik V has also been relegated to a second tier of vaccines, which South Africa says needs further studies, according to the ministry of health.

Even some countries that have accepted donations have avoided purchases.

Uganda considered buying Chinese vaccines, but is focused on COVAX due to its cost and the availability of data, said Ombeva Malande, director of the Vaccine and Immunization Center for East Africa, which advised the government. Kenya is taking a similar line, he said.

Diana Atwine, permanent secretary of the Ugandan health ministry, said the authorities would consider WHO-approved affordable vaccines.

The head of Kenya’s vaccine task force confirmed that it is not in talks to purchase Chinese vaccines, and the Ministry of Health’s plans do not include Russian vaccines.

DOLLARS AND DOSES

Although COVAX photos are free for most African nations, countries that make trade deals are paying a premium.

Senegal paid $ 20 per injection for 200,000 doses of Sinopharm, a double vaccine.

“The worst thing that could happen now is that countries do not start vaccinating,” said Tandakha Ndiaye Dieye, a member of Senegal’s vaccine advisory group, explaining the decision.

In comparison, the Serum Institute of India is selling AstraZeneca injections that it manufactures for $ 3. The Indian government has also donated more than half a million of these doses to eight African countries, according to a Reuters count.

So far, Beijing has not announced financing packages that would make vaccine businesses more accessible in Africa.

At about $ 10 a dose, Sputnik V is cheaper, and RDIF told Reuters it would be even more competitive if subsidized via COVAX.

RDIF said it is in “advanced negotiations” with WHO to be included in COVAX and may offer a single version to reduce the cost. A spokesman for GAVI, the global vaccine alliance that helps lead COVAX, said that all vaccines would be considered, but first needed approval from WHO or another strict regulatory authority.

RDIF said some deliveries of Sputnik V doses offered by the AU plan could begin in May.

An AU diplomat told Reuters that negotiations are taking place, but no agreement has been reached. No details were announced about the financing package. RDIF did not respond to Reuters’ questions about the potential deal.

Both China and Russia are expected to increase production if they want to become major global vaccine suppliers. For Moscow, exporting vaccines is politically sensitive when its own population has yet to be vaccinated.

“I’m not concerned that Russia will be able to deliver the doses,” said W. Gyude Moore, of the Center for Global Development, a think tank in Washington.

“I am concerned about how African countries are going to pay for them … COVAX is simply not going to be enough.”