ABSTRACT
Background: The proportion of COVID-19 vaccination in Africa countries remains lower than other low and middle-income countries around the world. This rate is much lower in sub-Saharan Africa especially Cameroon. The low rate among these countries is attributed to vaccine hesitancy, mainly due to misinformation about vaccine origin, efficacy, and safety and the use of local herbs. Methods: From January to April 2022, we gathered latest experiences and opinions on four vaccine hesitancy-related areas, namely policies, perceived low risk, religious factors and use of local herbs in Cameroon in particular and some selected African countries in general;from published information in the literature. Results and recommended local solutions: The report mentions that political influences, religious beliefs and low perceived risk exists, vaccine safety and effectiveness and consumption of local herbs do contribute to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, collectively. Systematically monitoring the drivers of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, implementing tailored interventions promoting vaccine acceptance, and evaluating the impact of these interventions reduce vaccine hesitancy drastically.
ABSTRACT
This brief review, which was presented as an introduction to the CAS/IAP/NASCA Workshop on scientific evidence response to the COVID-19 in Cameroon and Africa, covers the classification of viruses based on the coding nucleic acid type, the structure of the genomes of corona viruses that have infected humans in the 21st century ie SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. It is recalled that SARS-CoV-2 has a genome size of 29.8 kb very similar to those of SARS-CoV (29.10 kb) and MERS-CoV (30.1kb). The functions of main proteins featuring on surface the SARS-COV-2, namely, spike (S), membrane (M) and the envelope (E) protein as well as the nucleocapsid (N) protein that is expressed in the core of the viral particle were described. An overview of the pathogenesis showed that the three viruses cause similar symptoms, the most severe of them being the severe respiratory syndrome that could lead to death. A deep understanding of the roles of the viral proteins has facilitated the development of diagnostic tests, vaccines and drugs to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The review also cites COVID-19 vaccines currently approved by the WHO as well as patent drugs in current usage and points out that none of these were developed in Africa, which is why local capacity has to be built to better combat the current and future pandemics.
ABSTRACT
Facing the unprecedented burden and rapid spread of the Covid-19 pandemic across the globe, responses from various regions have been exceptionally quick. Drug discovery has been essentially based on repurposing, particularly at the onset of the scourge. Several experimental models have been designed ranging from in vitro cell culture systems to nonhuman primates;however, each with advantages and limitations. It was revealed beside its detrimental consequences on health, economy and the society, Covid-19 has also provided opportunity to highlight the immense potential of traditional medicine as a valid alternative for addressing major health threat. The African traditional medicine has been instrumental for the control of the COVID-19 pandemic in the continent, in situation of extremely low vaccination coverage. For optimal and sustainable use of traditional medicine, we strongly recommend products be developed following the WHO standards, while taking into consideration sustainability, environmental protection and copyright issues surrounding the natural product-based drug research and development.
ABSTRACT
The ongoing SARS CoV-2 pandemic also known as COVID-19 is a highly infectious and deadly disease that has disrupted socio-economic activities and killed over 500 000 people worldwide during the past six months since it first erupted in Wuhan China in December 2019. While intensive efforts are under way in the developed countries to find a vaccine and cure for the disease, Cameroon and other African countries should not fold their hands and wait, but join the search for new remedies including from cures from traditional herbs while rigorously applying barrier and social distancing measures that have proven effective in in curbing the spread of the disease. Herein we enumerate a short list of research priorities that are feasible in our milieu and that could improve on diagnostics, treatment and prevention of the disease in the short and medium terms.