WHO INVITES POTENTIAL COVID-19 VACCINE CANDIDATES TO JOIN COVAX FACILITY – HOW WILL IT HELP ALL COUNTRIES? – DETAILS!

As the number of vaccines that are being tested across the globe to fight against the on-going coronavirus pandemic are increasing, the World Health Organisation has renewed its invite to potential vaccine candidates.

The WHO launched its COVAX facility in April and is currently stitching its agreements with developers and manufacturers to ensure that a potential vaccine is made available to all. Hence, WHO has chosen several candidates, for which the organisation will raise funds to ensure quick expansion and speedy manufacturing.

The COVAX facility aims to procure two billion doses of the vaccine by the end of 2021, in order to distribute it to the low and middle income countries. Previously, WHO had said that around 75 countries have expressed their interest in joining the COVAX facility, but there is no information regarding those who have already joined this initiative.

However, the countries that enter this agreement are likely to be assured of the supply of the vaccine, at least to protect 20 percent of their population. Countries which do not have the resources to get into individual bilateral agreements with multiple vaccine developers for securing supplies of a safe and successful vaccine, can get access to it by joining this facility. The United States has however, procured supplies in advance with its resources.