Africa appears to be rocky terrain for Russian and Chinese vaccines

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Russia and China are rushing to close the COVID-19 vaccine gap in Africa, hoping to strengthen their influence on a continent where many countries have not yet administered a single injection.

But so far, vaccine donations from Beijing and Moscow have been small, the commercial deals they offer are costly, and some African governments are wary of a lack of data.

As rich countries ramp up their vaccinations, Africa is left without the resources to pre-order Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

With Western countries criticized for stockpiling, flooding Africa with lifesaving shots would be a ‘soft power coup’ for Russia and China.

Moscow has offered 300 million doses of funding to an African Union (AU) procurement program.

Beijing has pledged nearly a quarter of all its vaccine donations to Africa, according to data from Bridge Consulting, a Beijing-based health consultancy.

“This is a vibrant manifestation of the friendship between China and Africa,” China’s Foreign Ministry told Reuters.

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

French President Emmanuel Macron says Europe and the United States are at risk of losing influence in Africa on the matter.

John Nkengasong, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, warned against “vaccine diplomacy” and said that powers should not use token allocations to gain political influence.

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

“It’s like trying to sprinkle water on kids on a really hot day … Then you can tick the box that you did that,” he said. “That’s not what we are looking for as a continent.”

While other developing regions turned to Russia or China, their involvement in Africa translated into little armed shots.

Africa has received about 3.15 million shots from China – or less than 4% of its vaccine exports – according to data from Bridge Consulting.

“The number of vaccines donated by China will not increase the needle in any of these countries. But it’s just as much about optics, ”said Eric Olander, co-founder of The China-Africa Project.

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

The global COVAX vaccination schedule, meanwhile, delivered nearly 15 million shots to 22 African countries in the first 10 days.

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

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

DATA SHORTAGE

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

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

But a government official involved in tenders told Reuters the lack of research data meant that Chinese vaccines were not being seriously considered for now. Sputnik V was also relegated to a second layer of vaccination. South Africa needs more research, according to the Ministry of Health.

Even some countries that accepted donations shied away from purchases.

Uganda was considering buying Chinese vaccines, but is focused on COVAX because of their cost and data availability, said Ombeva Malande, director of the East Africa Center for Vaccines and Immunization, who advised the government. Kenya is following a similar line, he said.

Diana Atwine, permanent secretary of Uganda’s Ministry of Health, said authorities would consider affordable vaccines approved by WHO.

The head of the Kenyan vaccine task force confirmed that there are no talks to purchase Chinese vaccines, and the Ministry of Health’s plans do not include Russian vaccines.

DOLLARS AND DOSES

While COVAX shots are free for most African countries, countries that make commercial deals pay a premium.

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

“The worst that could happen right now is countries not starting to vaccinate,” said Tandakha Ndiaye Dieye, a member of the Senegalese vaccine advisory group, explaining the decision.

In comparison, the Indian Serum Institute sells AstraZeneca shots it produces for $ 3. According to a Reuters report, the Indian government has also donated more than half a million of those shots to eight African countries.

Beijing has so far not announced any financing packages that would make vaccination deals in Africa more affordable.

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

RDIF said it was in “advanced negotiations” with WHO to be included in COVAX and could offer a one-off version to reduce costs. A spokesman for GAVI, the global vaccine alliance that helps COVAX, said all vaccines would be considered, but they first needed approval from WHO or some other strict regulatory body.

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

A senior AU diplomat told Reuters talks were ongoing but no agreement had been reached. No details have been disclosed about the financing package. RDIF did not respond to Reuters questions about the possible deal.

Both China and Russia must increase production if they hope to become major global vaccine suppliers. For Moscow, the export of shots is politically sensitive if its own population still needs to be vaccinated.

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

“I’m worried about how African countries will pay for it … COVAX just won’t be enough.”