<span style="color: #222222;">The World Health Organization, WHO, has said that 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are needed in African countries within six weeks to make sure second doses can be administered within the recommended time frame. </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">WHO's Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti has said that Africa needs vaccines now and any pause in vaccination campaigns will lead to lost lives and lost hope.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The WHO emphasized the importance of maintaining the recommended interval of 8 to 12 weeks between doses to ensure an 81 per cent protection rate against COVID.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">According to WHO data, only 28 million doses from various vaccine manufacturers have reached Africa so far.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The COVAX global vaccine initiative said, it needs around USD 2 billion to boost COVID vaccine programs in poorer countries.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">COVAX, which aims to provide vaccines to lower-income countries, is organized by the WHO and the Gavi alliance.</span><br />''  <br />