Gavi hopes COVAX will enable countries to gain access to the world‘s largest COVID-19 vaccine portfolio
London:
The international Gavi vaccine alliance has facilitated a new campaign to secure doses of COVID-19 vaccines for 92 low- and middle-income countries and economies, including India, along with richer countries.
The COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) is part of the COVAX Facility, a mechanism hosted by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, designed to ensure rapid, fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries of the world.
“We are facing the most severe economic contraction since World War II, and this crisis will have a terrible impact on the poorest and emerging economies,” said Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, chairman of the council of administration of Gavi.
“These countries will have limited resources to access future COVID-19 vaccines: it is our duty to support them. Without this support, the majority of the world‘s population will continue to suffer from this disease even after developing a tool to fight it. We can now prevent that from happening, ”she said in a statement issued in Geneva.
The list of 92 CMA-eligible economies includes all economies with a gross national income (GNI) per capita below US $ 4,000 as well as other economies eligible for the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA). .
While nearly USD 600 million has already been raised for AMC, the “innovative finance mechanism” requires seed funding of USD 2 billion before year-end to secure and guarantee doses for the 92 economies. eligible for AMC. India falls into the lower middle income category.
A minimum of an additional $ 3.4 billion is estimated to be needed to purchase around one billion doses by the end of 2021.
“We now have the framework in place to ensure that every economy, especially the poorest countries, is not left behind in the race for the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the ‘Vaccine Alliance.
“This disease has spread at lightning speed across the world, which means no one is safe until everyone is safe. That is why we now need support and vital funding to ensure that once a safe and effective vaccine is ready, we can work to protect Gavi will work with governments, international organizations, manufacturers and civil society organizations to ensure that the doses get to those who need them, ”said Dr Berkley.
All 92 low- and middle-income countries and economies approved by the Gavi Board of Directors will be able to access vaccines through the COVAX AMC, which will also cover at least part of the cost. COVAX AMC was launched last month at the Global Vaccine Summit virtually hosted by the UK.
At the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged $ 15 million as India’s contribution to Gavi, the Alliance for Vaccines.
“Our support for Gavi is not just financial. The huge demand from India is lowering the global price of vaccines,” Prime Minister Modi said in his summit speech.
“In today’s difficult context, I would like to reiterate that India stands in solidarity with the world. Our proven ability to produce quality medicines and vaccines at low cost, our own rapidly expanding national immunization experience, and our tremendous talents in scientific research are all at the service of mankind, ”he said. .
Gavi hopes COVAX will provide countries with access to the world‘s largest and most diverse COVID-19 vaccine portfolio. This means that, even though there are separate bilateral agreements with vaccine manufacturers, thanks to the facility, countries have a much better chance of having access to the vaccine or vaccines that prove to be the most effective.
High and middle income economies that have already submitted expressions of interest in the COVAX Facility will now need to enter into a legally binding agreement to purchase doses through the Facility. This commitment will need to be confirmed next month by making initial financial contributions, allowing the Facility to enter into agreements with manufacturers for the future supply of vaccines.
The goal is by the end of 2021 to deliver two billion doses of safe and effective vaccines to all participating countries, including the 92 CMA-eligible economies.
Once a vaccine has been approved by regulatory bodies and / or prequalified by WHO, the COVAX Center will then purchase these vaccines with the aim of trying to initially deliver doses for an average of 20% of the population. of each country, focusing on health care. workers and the most vulnerable groups.
Additional doses will be made available based on funding, country needs, vulnerability and potential threat, and a dose buffer will also be maintained for emergency and humanitarian use.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a public-private global health partnership aimed at increasing immunization in poor countries.
