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BRUSSELS: The COVAX global vaccine-sharing programme has delivered 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses, The World Health Organization (WHO) said.
“On 15 January 2021, a shipment of 1.1 million COVID-19 vaccines to Rwanda included the billionth dose supplied via COVAX,” WHO said in a statement. However, supplies to poorer nations have long been very limited due to lack of vaccines as wealthier states secured most of the doses initially available from December 2020.
In the last quarter shipments have exponentially increased, allowing COVAX to reach the milestone of 1 billion doses shipped to 144 countries, said Gavi, which co-leads the programme alongside the WHO.
COVAX was launched in 2020 with the goal of delivering 2 billion doses by the end of 2021, but was slowed by wealthier states’ initial hoarding of limited shots, export restrictions and frequent changes within its organisation. read more
The program began delivering vaccine doses in February 2021. About one-third have been donated by rich nations, despite COVAX’s initial plans to supply only jabs procured directly by the programme with a budget of over $10 billion in donors’ funds.
This has led to delays as donors have often requested to send doses to countries selected by them. Despite the recent surge in deliveries, vaccine inequity remains high. The latest WHO data shows 67% of the population in richer nations have been fully vaccinated, compared with only 5% in poorer nations. Over 40% of the world’s population has not yet received a first dose.
Gavi, a vaccine alliance which co-manages COVAX, is seeking more funds to reach the WHO’s goal of vaccinating 70% of the population in poorer nations by July. The WHO said the work that has gone into this milestone is only a reminder of the work that remains, saying out of 194 Member States, 36 WHO Member States have vaccinated less than 10% of their population, and 88 less than 40%.
COVAX’s ambition was compromised by hoarding/stockpiling in rich countries, catastrophic outbreaks leading to borders and supply being locked. And a lack of sharing of licences, technology and know how by pharmaceutical companies meant manufacturing capacity went unused.
COVAX is leading the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history, with deliveries to 144 countries to date. It is working with governments, manufacturers and partners to ensure that when countries receive vaccines they can get them to people quickly.