COVAX Facility: 172 Countries Engaging In Vaccine Plan

Jamaica is among the 172 countries the World Health Organization (WHO) says is engaging with the COVAX Facility. The COVAX Facility has the largest and most diverse COVID-19 vaccine portfolio in the world.

During a news conference at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus says the organization wrote to all member states requesting they join the vaccine arm of the access to the COVID-19 tools accelerator.

According to Dr. Ghebreyesus this global initiative is to ensure that countries have equal access to safe and effective vaccines when they are available.

The next step for the partnership is to confirm potential self-financing participants by August 31 and to turn these into binding commitments to join the Covid-19 vaccine global access facility (COVAX Facility) by September 18.

The first payment for the vaccine is due on October 9, 2020. Dr Ghebreyesus emphasizes that the fastest way to end the coronavirus pandemic is to invest in the COVAX Facility.

Initially, when there will be limited supply, health workers and high-risk patients will be prioritized.

Meanwhile, the countries are being urged to use readily available tools to fight against the increasing transmission of the virus.