COVAX Issues COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan

The COVAX vaccine program aims to distribute almost 340 million vaccine doses during the first half of the year, according to its latest distribution plan unveiled yesterday.

COVAX — which is administered by GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, with backing from the World Health Organization — aims to inoculate 3.3. percent of the populations of 145 participating nations during the first half of this year, including essential healthcare workers and groups deemed to be most vulnerable.

COVAX officials say 240 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine will be distributed by the Serum Institute of India during this period, along with an additional 96 million doses manufactured by AstraZeneca. In addition, Pfizer/BioNTech will provide 1.2 million doses of their vaccine in the first quarter, with that number eventually increasing to 40 million starting in the second quarter of 2021.

Not included in the distribution plan were 500 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine negotiated in December (DID, Dec. 21, 2020), because the single-dose regimen is pending approval from global regulators. In total, COVAX has secured supply agreements with vaccine developers for a total of 2 billion doses of vaccines.

The Biden administration plans to join the COVAX initiative and is now seeking billions of dollars in aid for the program beyond the $4 billion Congress previously earmarked for Gavi (DID, Jan. 21). ― Jason Scott