Created in 2020 following the coronavirus pandemic, this global initiative is doing everything to accelerate access to tools to fight Covid-19. COVAX is co-led by CEPI (Coalition for Innovations in Epidemic Preparedness), Gavi (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) and WHO (World Health Organization).
International collaboration
Covax works in partnership with vaccine manufacturers, UNICEF and the World Bank. Its current goal is to ensure that vaccines against Covid-19 are available worldwide. Indeed, to contain the coronavirus epidemic, 190 countries are working together to “ ensure rapid and equitable access for all countries to COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of their income level “. Dr Richard Hatchett, Director General of CEPI, declared that “ Distributing successful vaccines, completing the development of other promising vaccine candidates to further increase supply, and ending the acute phase of the pandemic are challenges we still have to overcome. “. However, the financial contributions ” is the biggest opportunity ever to end the acute phase of the pandemic globally by the end of 2021 “. COVAX has obtained records of donations, allowing it to give access to vaccine doses during the first half of 2021. Some territories have signed pledges, such as Norway, Canada, Kuwait, Denmark, New- Zealand and Singapore, ranging from 70,000 euros to 75 million dollars.
Access promising vaccines through new agreements
In its press release of December 18, COVAX announces that it has entered into agreements to access nearly 2 billion doses of several promising anti-Covid vaccines. The new agreements include the signing of an ” advance purchase With the AstraZeneca laboratory, covering 170 million doses of the vaccine candidate AstraZeneca / Oxford and our written report with Johnson & Johnson, covering 500 million doses of the Janssen vaccine. COVAX had already agreed with the Serum Institute of India (SII), for 200 million doses (up to 900 million), for the AstraZenaca / Oxford and Novavax vaccine. A statement also covers 200 million doses of the Sanofi / GSK vaccine. The aim is to protect vulnerable groups within the populations of each country, by securing the supply and the acquisition of vaccine doses: ” At least 1.3 billion doses funded by donors will be delivered to 92 countries “. The goal is to achieve vaccination coverage of 20% of the population by the end of 2021.
