CTV News shows and explains why Canada has access to the COVAX program. Canada could receive at least 1.9 million doses of Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine from COVAX, an initiative to guarantee equitable access to doses, especially for developing nations.
(COVAX) COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, abbreviated as COVAX, is a global initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines led by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and others. It is one of the 3 important pillars of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, an initiative begun in April 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Commission, and the government of France as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. COVAX aims to coordinate international resources to enable the equitable access of COVID-19 diagnostics, treatments, and COVID-19 vaccines.
COVAX is certainly co-led by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and others.
By 15 July 2020, 165 countries (representing 60% of the human population) had joined COVAX.
Some might have thought that it is weird that Canada has access to the COVAX program.
ReplyDeleteCanada sure has defended its decision to draw on a supply of coronavirus vaccines from a global inoculation-sharing initiative known as Covax.
Covax pools funds from wealthier countries to help buy vaccines for themselves and low-income nations.
Canada is the only member of the G7 group of rich countries listed as a Covax beneficiary at this stage.
It seems that other wealthier countries, including New Zealand and Singapore, have requested an early allocation as well.
Most of the first doses available, though, will be delivered to low- and middle-income countries.