In order to provide rapid, fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has invited countries to join its Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) facility by August 31, 2020. This facility is led by the WHO, along with the GAVI vaccine alliance (formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation), and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
- Its aim is to deliver 2 billion doses of effective, approved COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2021.
- Notably, COVAX is part of a broader program, called the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator that ensures the availability of vaccines, treatments, diagnostic tests and other healthcare resources to combat the pandemic.
Reason for this facility:
The reason behind this facility is to counter “vaccine nationalism” means the wealthier nations are inking pre-purchase deals with pharma companies to buy coronavirus vaccine. Therefore, WHO urged the wealthier nations to join the COVAX Global Vaccines Facility for sharing vaccine with developing countries.
How will the COVAX Facility work?
It is a mechanism designed to pool funds from wealthier countries and nonprofits to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and distribute it equitably around the world.
- As of July 15, 2020, 75 countries expressed interest to protect their populations and those of other nations through joining the vaccine facility.
- The 75 countries, which would finance the vaccines from their own public finance budgets, partner with up to 90 lower-income countries that could be supported through voluntary donations to Gavi’s COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC).
- The vaccines will be delivered equally to participating countries proportional to their populations.
Recent Related News:
On July 9, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has formulated an Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPR) to evaluate the world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Panel will be co-chaired by former Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Elizabeth Clark and former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director-General– Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarter– Geneva, Switzerland
