172 countries engaging with global COVID-19 vaccine plan: WHO
Some 172 countries are engaging with the COVAX facility designed to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, the World Health Organization says, but more funding is needed and countries need now to make binding commitments.
Countries wishing to be part of the global COVAX plan have until August 31 to submit expressions of interest, WHO officials said on Monday, with confirmation of intention to join due by September 18, and initial payments due by October 9.
WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the facility was critical to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, and would not only pool risk for countries developing and buying vaccines, but also ensure prices are kept "as low as possible."
"Vaccine nationalism only helps the virus," he told a media briefing. "The success of the COVAX facility hinges not only on countries signing up to it, but also filling key funding gaps."
COVAX is co-led by the GAVI vaccines alliance, the WHO and the CEPI Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and is designed to guarantee equitable access globally to COVID-19 vaccines once they are developed and authorized for use.
It currently covers 9 candidate COVID-19 vaccines and its aim is to secure supplies of and deliver 2 billion doses across countries that sign up by the end of 2021.
"Initially, when there will be limited supply (of COVID-19 vaccines), it's important to provide the vaccine to those at highest risk around the globe," Tedros said.
He said this included health workers on the front lines of the pandemic, who were "critical to saving lives and stabilizing the overall health system."
(Source: Reuters)
UNRWA warns against psychological sufferings of Gazan children
UNICEF urges immediate action to protect children in Sudan's Darfur
Iran emerges as regional medicine hub, data show
IRGC disintegrating enemies as morally bankrupt US targets Muslim world: Salami
VIDEO | Police raid pro-Palestinian camp at Amsterdam university, arrest 125 students
How Palestinian prisoner in jail for 20 years won coveted literary prize for his book
UK defense ministry comes under major cyber attack
VIDEO | Austrian students set up pro-Gaza encampment at Vienna university
US soldier detained in Russia for stealing
VIDEO | Dating ancient artefacts with proton beams
Italy sued for complicity in genocide
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
