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From Egypt to Kenya, African countries are building their own vaccine factories

From Egypt to Kenya, African countries are building their own vaccine factories

BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY A bid for self-sufficiency in the health sector is largely seen targeting vaccine imports and is elevating Africa's bio-manufacturing industry, according to numerous recent reports which also point to improved healthcare capabilities. “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for Africa to accelerate its vaccine manufacturing capabilities,” said Olilo Patrick, a Genetic Engineer at the Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for biotechnology research and development. During the pandemic, vaccine access was almost impossible to most African countries, with wait times of months, as Western nations prioritised vaccine nationalism and profiteering around supply and demand. Having…
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S.A’s death toll much higher than official tally

S.A’s death toll much higher than official tally

A South African report into excess deaths over the past year suggests more than 133,000 people in the country have died from COVID-19, far more than the official tally of nearly 55,000. The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) has been monitoring excess deaths since May 2020. In its latest report, published on Wednesday, the SAMRC said South Africa had seen 157,000 excess deaths in the past 12 months and estimated that 85% of them were caused by COVID-19, which means just over 133,000 people have died from the disease. This compares to an official death toll of 54,968 since…
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South Africa’s 59% excess deaths imply hidden COVID-19 toll

South Africa’s 59% excess deaths imply hidden COVID-19 toll

TIM COCKS SOUTH Africa witnessed some 17,000 extra deaths from natural causes or 59% more than would normally be expected between early May and mid-July, scientists said. This suggests that more people are dying of COVID-19 than shown in official figures. New data by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) showed that just in the week leading up to July 14 there was an excess of 5,022 deaths by natural causes, about half more than usual. Africa's most industrialised nation is in the middle of a runaway epidemic of the coronavirus, with cases increasing by more than 10,000 a…
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