GAVI, the Vaccines Alliance is seeking 5.2 Billion Dollars to address uncertainties and risks in the virus’ evolution and be able to continue supplying vaccines to reach countries that are most in need and yet cannot afford to buy vaccines.
In their latest statement, the global vaccines entity says once the new money is found, they plan to use 3.7 billion dollars to fund a 600 million dose Pandemic Vaccine Pool under the COVAX facility to address uncertainties and related risks that were initially uncovered such as boosters.
One Billion Dollars will cover costs that countries incur in preparations for vaccine delivery which may include preparation of storage facilities and creating awareness among others and yet 545 million dollars is planned to cover costs for the rollout of donated doses such that routine immunization services in recipient countries are not interrupted.
So far, they have received early commitments by donors towards this target of about 192 million dollars with pledges coming in from Spain, Norway, Portugal, Belgium, Denmark, and Ireland.
In his remarks, Dr. Seth Berkley, Gavi’s Chief Executive said this year they are focusing on ensuring that doses are used rapidly and that will be responsive to country preferences and coverage targets.
“COVAX has delivered more than 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines in just under a year, an unprecedented achievement in global public health given all the well-known challenges that were faced in 2021. In 2022, we can help break COVID by adapting our support to ensure doses are used rapidly, get into arms safely, are responsive to country preferences and coverage targets. This will help the world to reduce pandemic risks and uncertainties”, he said in a statement.
In 2022, modeling results estimate that COVAX will save 1 to 1.27 million lives in eligible countries that would otherwise be lost to the pandemic. Also, they note that the economic cost of the pandemic could be reduced by as much as half in some countries if vaccines are rolled out rapidly.
Launched in 2020, COVAX delivered its first vaccines in January 2021, 39 days after the first vaccination outside of a clinical trial. World Health Organization figures show the facility which was jointly set up to ensure equitable access to jabs by all countries has to date shipped more than a billion doses to subscribing countries. 900 million of these have gone to lower-income countries.
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