<p>Only a quarter of health workers in Africa are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the World Health Organization said Thursday warning that the majority of the continent's frontline medical workforce were dangerously exposed.</p>.<p>By contrast, a recent study of 22 predominantly high-income countries revealed that more than 80 per cent of healthcare workers there were fully vaccinated against coronavirus, according to the WHO.</p>.<p>"The majority of Africa's health workers are still missing out on vaccines and remain dangerously exposed to severe Covid-19 infection," WHO's Africa director Matshidiso Moeti said after revealing just 27 per cent of health workers on the continent were jabbed.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/covid-will-continue-to-spread-as-people-socialise-and-travel-says-who-1054177.html">Covid will continue to spread as people socialise and travel, says WHO</a></strong></p>.<p>"It is important to have high vaccine coverage among health workers not only for their own protection but also for their patients and to ensure health care systems keep operating during a time of extreme need," the WHO said.</p>.<p>Only one country in Africa had the necessary number of health workers -- 10.9 per 1,000 population -- while 16 countries had fewer than one per 1,000, according to the WHO.</p>.<p>"Any loss of these essential workers to Covid-19 due to illness or death therefore heavily impacts on service provision capacity," the WHO said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/children-at-lower-risk-from-covid-vaccines-should-go-to-poor-nations-says-who-1054136.html">Children at lower risk from Covid, vaccines should go to poor nations, says WHO</a></strong></p>.<p>The WHO intervention came as scientists in South Africa revealed that they had detected a new Covid-19 variant with "a very high number of mutations", blamed for an "exponential" surge in infections there.</p>.<p>For the first time since the third wave peak in August, cases in Southern Africa have increased, jumping 48 per cent to November 21, compared with the previous week.</p>.<p>"With a new surge in cases looming over Africa following the end-of-year festive season, countries must urgently speed up the rollout of vaccines to health care workers," said Moeti</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>Only a quarter of health workers in Africa are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the World Health Organization said Thursday warning that the majority of the continent's frontline medical workforce were dangerously exposed.</p>.<p>By contrast, a recent study of 22 predominantly high-income countries revealed that more than 80 per cent of healthcare workers there were fully vaccinated against coronavirus, according to the WHO.</p>.<p>"The majority of Africa's health workers are still missing out on vaccines and remain dangerously exposed to severe Covid-19 infection," WHO's Africa director Matshidiso Moeti said after revealing just 27 per cent of health workers on the continent were jabbed.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/covid-will-continue-to-spread-as-people-socialise-and-travel-says-who-1054177.html">Covid will continue to spread as people socialise and travel, says WHO</a></strong></p>.<p>"It is important to have high vaccine coverage among health workers not only for their own protection but also for their patients and to ensure health care systems keep operating during a time of extreme need," the WHO said.</p>.<p>Only one country in Africa had the necessary number of health workers -- 10.9 per 1,000 population -- while 16 countries had fewer than one per 1,000, according to the WHO.</p>.<p>"Any loss of these essential workers to Covid-19 due to illness or death therefore heavily impacts on service provision capacity," the WHO said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/children-at-lower-risk-from-covid-vaccines-should-go-to-poor-nations-says-who-1054136.html">Children at lower risk from Covid, vaccines should go to poor nations, says WHO</a></strong></p>.<p>The WHO intervention came as scientists in South Africa revealed that they had detected a new Covid-19 variant with "a very high number of mutations", blamed for an "exponential" surge in infections there.</p>.<p>For the first time since the third wave peak in August, cases in Southern Africa have increased, jumping 48 per cent to November 21, compared with the previous week.</p>.<p>"With a new surge in cases looming over Africa following the end-of-year festive season, countries must urgently speed up the rollout of vaccines to health care workers," said Moeti</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>