Geneva: The “terrible” surge of the Corona virus in India has had a severe impact on COVAX’s supply in the second quarter of this year, to the point where, by the end of June there will be a global shortfall of 190 million doses.
COVAX is the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. It is the only global initiative that is working with governments and manufacturers to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide to both higher-income and lower-income countries.
In a joint statement, the COVAX co-conveners – the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which have been working in partnership with UNICEF as key implementing partner, developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers, the World Bank, and others, stated on May 27, 2021 that even though COVAX will have larger volumes available later in the year through the deals it has already secured with several manufacturers, “if we do not address the current, urgent shortfall the consequences could be catastrophic”.
The joint statement mentioned that at no point in this pandemic “have we seen such an acute need to look to the future challenges and not rest on the patchy achievements made so far”. It stated: “COVAX’s need for doses is greatest right now. Countries with higher coverage rates, which are due to receive doses soon should swap their places in supply queues with COVAX so that doses can be equitably distributed as quickly as possible.”
Mentioning that when it comes to worldwide vaccine distribution, COVAX is the only initiative capable of rising to the challenge of this moment, the joint statement urged nations to free up supply chains by removing trade barriers, export control measures, and other transit issues that block, restrict or slowdown the supply and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, raw materials, components and supplies.
“Now more than ever, at the peak of the pandemic, we need ambitious, global solutions,” it said.
Pointing out that that countries that are advanced in their vaccination programmes are seeing cases of COVID-19 decline, hospitalisations decrease and early signs of some kind of normality resume, it warned that the global picture is far more concerning.
“We are seeing the traumatic effects of the terrible surge of COVID-19 in South Asia – a surge which has also severely impacted global vaccine supplies. We are also witnessing why access to vaccines before a surge occurs is so important. For that reason, we must focus on ensuring countries who have not benefitted from these life-saving tools do so now, and with urgency.”
As the global mechanism for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, COVAX has proven it works, it said. Designed and implemented in the midst of an unprecedented global public health crisis, it has delivered over 70 million doses to 126 countries and economies around the world since February – from remote islands to conflict settings – managing the largest and most complex rollout of vaccines in history, it said over 35 countries received their first COVID-19 vaccine doses because of COVAX.
Giving a call to action to equip COVAX to deliver 2 billion doses in 2021, it said this challenge can still be met ” with concerted action and global leadership”.
“If the world’s leaders rally together, the original COVAX objectives – delivery of 2 billion doses of vaccines worldwide in 2021, and 1.8 billion doses to 92 lower income economies by early 2022 are still well within reach. But it will require governments and the private sector to urgently unlock new sources of doses, with deliveries starting in June, and funding so we can deliver. COVAX has the infrastructure in place to facilitate and coordinate this complex global effort,” it said.
The statement pointed out that millions of dollars and doses were committed to COVAX on May 21, 2021, bringing the total of doses pledged so far to more than 150 million. “At the World Health Assembly, governments have been united in recognising the political and financial urgency of supporting COVAX with doses and dollars. It is now imperative to build on this momentum to secure full funding for COVAX and more vaccines – right now – for lower income countries at the Advance Market Commitment Summit on 2 June,” it said.
To enable COVAX to deliver on the promise of global equitable access, COVAX called for the following immediate actions besides freeing up supply chains:
- Fund the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC). The AMC mechanism is how COVAX provides doses to lower income economies. The AMC has already secured 1.3 billion doses for delivery in 2021. This is enough to protect the most at-risk population groups: health workers, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. “We need an additional $2 billion to lift coverage in AMC countries up to nearly 30%, and we need it by June 2 to lock in supplies now so that doses can be delivered through 2021, and into early 2022.”
- Share doses, now. The pandemic has just taken a frightening new turn, as a deadly surge of cases rages across South Asia and other hotspots. Countries with the largest supplies should redirect doses to COVAX now, to have maximum impact.
- “We are starting to see countries stepping forward with doses, with the United States and Europe collectively pledging to share 180 million doses. But we still need more, we need them to go through COVAX, and we need them to start moving in early June. At least one billion doses could be shared by wealthy countries in 2021.”
Since COVAX was established in mid-2020, it has had the support and resources of 192 of the world’s economies. “This tremendous vote of confidence has enabled us to demonstrate our ability to deliver an unprecedented global rollout. It’s time to finish the job,” it stated.
The statement was signed by Dr Richard Hatchett Chief Executive Officer, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Dr Seth Berkley Chief Executive Officer, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO), and Henrietta Fore Executive Director, UNICEF.
– global bihari bureau
