Addressing vaccine inequity: African agency and access to COVID-19 vaccines

The COVID-19 pandemic has had global consequences, both from a health and economic perspective. The African continent, although affected at a relatively low level in terms of official deaths and infections, has not been spared. While many expected the COVAX program—a joint initiative between the World Health Organization, Gavi (formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and other non-profits and largely funded by the European Union—to provide two billion vaccines to developing countries, it failed to deliver more than half of the promised doses. This is largely due to vaccine hoarding by Western countries, which prevented African countries from placing their vaccine orders. Yet, this setback has not led African institutions and actors to stay inactive. This commentary investigates the question of access to vaccines in Africa and the agency exercised by African actors in this process. It shows that despite evolving in a constrained environment, several African actors, both at the national and regional level, have exercised agency by using a range of specific actions to address vaccine shortages. In doing so, this commentary aims to unpack the modalities and actions that have been carried out and adds to a growing literature on African agency in global relations.