Boosting Africa’s health security will be challenging

Significance Although cases and mortality per capita in Africa have been low compared to Europe and the Americas, the pandemic has exposed underlying vulnerabilities in health systems globally, and especially in Africa. Compared to the developed world, Africa has received fewer vaccines, specialised therapeutics are sparse and testing has remained low, leading to limited reporting. Impacts Better regional coordination of lab information and communication infrastructure systems would help identify and address outbreaks quicker. Investments into training and development are needed to cultivate the next generation of continental scientific research talent. Governments may make lab research more attractive for non-lab researchers to close the talent gap in diagnostic and lab staff capacity.