(20 Jun 2024)
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RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Paris, France – 20 June 2024
1. Arrival of Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi
2. Masisi shaking hands with French President Emmanuel Macron
3. Arrival of Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo, being greeted by Macron
4. Nana Akufo-Addo shaking hands with Emmanuel Macron
5. Arrival of President of African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, being greeted by Macron
6. Faki Mahamat and Macron shaking hands
STORYLINE:
French President Emmanuel Macron joined some African leaders on Thursday to kick off a planned $1 billion project to accelerate the rollout of vaccines in Africa, after the Coronavirus pandemic highlighted inequalities in access to them.
The launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator, which will provide financial incentives to vaccine manufacturers, offered a momentary break for Macron from domestic political concerns as legislative elections loom on June 30 and July 7.
Many African leaders and advocacy groups say Africa was unfairly locked out of access to COVID-19 treatment tools, vaccines and testing equipment — that many richer countries obtained in huge quantities — after the pandemic swept the world starting in 2020.
The World Health Organization, advocacy groups and others want to help Africa get better prepared for the next pandemic, which many health experts say is inevitable.
When the Coronavirus pandemic began, South Africa was the only country in Africa with any ability to produce vaccines, officials say, and the continent produced a tiny fraction of all vaccines worldwide.
Thursday’s event in Paris also aims to help give a funding shot-in-the-arm to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a public-private partnership that helps get needed vaccines to developing countries around the world.
AP video shot by Nicolas Garriga
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