The beginning of the end for Africa’s COVID-19 vaccine struggles?

African countries in the middle of their third — and potentially worst yet — wave of the COVID-19 pandemic may soon receive much-needed reprieve, as shipments of vaccines donated by the United States are scheduled to begin next week.

The shipments will go to about 50 African countries and include doses of Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines, said Strive Masiyiwa, special envoy of the African Union, during a press briefing Thursday.

“There is movement, but obviously … we have an extraordinary situation with the third wave,” he said, adding that U.S. President Joe Biden’s new administration “has really stepped up.”

In addition to the U.S. donations, Masiyiwa added that shipments are set to begin in August for 400 million doses of the J&J vaccine that were purchased by the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team on behalf of African Union member states. All doses should be delivered within 12 months. Thus far, 50 countries have made orders for their share of the vaccines.

Why it matters: According to Masiyiwa, Africa had expected to get 700 million vaccine doses from the international COVAX initiative this year but has so far received fewer than 50 million doses in total, creating a “massive crisis” for the continent.

What’s next: Attention should now be focused on strengthening Africa’s manufacturing capacity, Masiyiwa said. This week, the World Bank announced a funding package amounting to €600 million ($710 million) for South African pharmaceutical company Aspen Pharmacare, which aims to produce more than 500 million doses of the J&J vaccine by the end of 2022.

Masiyiwa also noted that manufacturing capacity in countries such as Senegal, Egypt, Morocco, and Nigeria “could have been used more effectively over the years.”