WHO officials said countries wishing to be part of the global COVAX plan have until August 31 to submit expressions of interest, with confirmation of intent to join due by September 18, and initial payments due by October 9.
Geneva / London:
The World Health Organization said Monday that about 172 countries are participating in the COVAX facility designed to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, but more funding is needed and countries now need to make binding commitments.
WHO officials stated that international sites wishing to stage a phase of the global COVAX scheme have until August 31 to show interest, with an emphasis on intent to be part of the due until September 18, and the initial payment due by October 9.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the facility is necessary to end the COVID-19 pandemic, and will not only pool risks for countries that develop and buy vaccines, but also ensure that prices are kept "as low as possible."
"Vaccine nationalism only helps the virus," he said in a press release. "The success of the COVAX facility depends not only on the countries that have joined it, but also on closing major financing gaps."
COVAX is jointly spearheading the GAVI Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization, and the CEPI Coalition for Pandemic Preparedness Innovations, and is designed to ensure globally equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines once they are developed and licensed for use.
It currently covers 9 candidate vaccines for COVID-19 and its goal is to secure supplies and deliver 2 billion doses across countries that are registering by the end of 2021.
“In the beginning, when there is a limited supply (of COVID-19 vaccines), it is important to provide the vaccine to those most at risk around the world,” Tedros said.
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