This does not only reinforce global inequalities, but the strategy slows down the process of ending the pandemic. Therefore, many experts advocate for making the COVID-19 vaccine equally accessible to all people.
The multi-stakeholder partnership COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX) therefore aims to promote the development and production of, and global access to COVID-19 vaccines. In doing so, COVAX is countering so-called “vaccine nationalism.” COVAX was launched in April 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Commission and France. The platform brings together governments, global health organizations, scientists, the private sector, and civil society.
At the virtual G7 Early Leaders’ Summit on February 19, new funding of $3.5 billion was announced. This brings the total funding available for vaccine acquisition and distribution to around $6.3 billion, benefiting 145 low- and middle-income ountries. COVAX plans to distribute more than 337 million Corona vaccine doses in the first half of this year. Ghana became the first country in the world to receive Corona vaccine through the COVAX program: 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
