COVAX delivers 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses

The COVAX facility has delivered about 1 billion vaccine doses across the world since the vaccination program started.

COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and WHO.

Its aim is to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines and to guarantee fair and equitable access for every country in the world.

In a statement, the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that the facility had delivered its billionth dose on the 15^th of January.

The billionth dose was part of the 1.1 million doses shipped to Rwanda.

‘’On 15 January 2021, a shipment of 1.1 million COVID-19 vaccines to Rwanda included the billionth dose supplied via COVAX.

‘’Together with our partners, COVAX is leading the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history, with deliveries to 144 countries to date.

‘’But the work that has gone into this milestone is only a reminder of the work that remains,’’ read the WHO statement.

According to WHO, as of 13 January 2022, out of 194 member states, 36 WHO member states have vaccinated less than 10% of their population, and 88 less than 40%.

The World Health Organisation added that the COVAX ambition of ensuring equitable access to vaccines by all countries was affected by rich countries that embarked on a hoarding spree.

‘’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 licenses, technology, and know-how by pharmaceutical companies meant manufacturing capacity went unused.

‘’COVAX is working with governments, manufacturers, and partners to ensure that when countries receive vaccines, they can get them to people quickly.

‘’With updated vaccines in the pipeline, now is the moment for all citizens to demand that governments and pharmaceutical companies share health tools globally and bring an end to the death and destruction cycles of this pandemic, limit new variants and drive a global economic recovery,’’ added the statement. –

COVAX delivers 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses