Coronavirus vaccine update: WHO asks countries to join COVAX platform to ensure equitable access

Considering the deadly spread of infections, a COVID-19 vaccine is our only ray of hope, with some quelling rumours that the world's first vaccine might be ready before the end of 2020.

While the work on vaccine development has, in the past weeks been accelerated in a speedy way, one of the prime concerns regarding the distribution is about equitable access. From the questions of who would get priority access, to ensure easy and fair distribution, philanthropists and medicine makers have been ensuring that we do not have the problem of having a bigger pandemic at hand. World Health Organisation, which is overseeing vaccine development is also pitching in efforts to ensure that a vaccine is made available for all.

In light of this, WHO, in its most recent advisory, invited countries worldwide to be a part of its unique 'COVAX' platform which works to further accelerate the development of a vaccine.

The international alliance, which was launched at the end of April this year was formed to manufacture, raise funds, invite medical inputs from brilliant minds as well as oversee the progress of the vaccine candidates, which, according to WHO standards are the safest and the most promising ones.

As of today, COVID-19 cases are nearing the 20 million mark. As per WHO, out of the 150+ groups working on a vaccine, 5 are in the most advanced and later stage of testing, which includes firms like Moderna Therapeutics Inc., CanSino Biologics, Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca backed venture.

COVAX is working to sign pacts and agreements with research groups involved in the production of a vaccine candidate which, according to the WHO is most likely to succeed.

The global health body backed initiative would thus help the core groups in providing timely access to funding, testing sites, speed up manufacturing so that once a vaccine is ready to roll, it can be mass-produced to reach the farthest corners of the world.

The facility would also help vaccine manufacturers meet the demand of producing enough doses for the population. As per reports, COVAX aims to procure a minimum of two billion doses of the approved COVID-19 vaccine by the end of next year. The deployment and supply, would, at first be concentrated for low and middle-income countries, or those with insufficient access to good healthcare.

As of now, several vaccine companies have signed pacts and agreements with pharma companies to ramp up production. Some groups have also signed deals with countries like the US and European Union to 'reserve' vaccine doses for them. If such a scenario does occur, with countries stepping forward to get priority access in the global vaccine hunt, it could leave developing countries and low-income countries in limbo. An international alliance like COVAX could help ensure equitable distribution and cover problems upfront.

According to the most recent briefing, as many as 75 countries have expressed their desire to join the initiative and raise needed funds for developments, which, in turn, would successfully ensure enough vaccine doses for them when the time arrives for deployment. According to WHO estimates, signup like this would ensure that at least 20% of a population gets the vaccine at the start.

At the same time, COVAX could also assist countries, which, individually, do not have enough resources or financial strength to sign separate agreements with vaccine makers to ensure first access. US and UK have been in the news for signing million-dollar pacts with top contenders, in recent weeks.

WHO is not the only health body working on such an initiative. Philanthropist Bill Gates, who, in the past, highlighted the problems which could arise with uneven distribution is also working on a similar alliance. The billionaire's foundation (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), in partnership with GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) and CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) are working together to ensure easy vaccines to developing countries. India's Serum Institute of India (SII) was the most recent vaccine producer to sign a deal with the foundation.

According to reports, a novel backing like this would work to ensure a supply of a minimum of 100 million doses to eligible at-risk countries at economical rates. The Foundation has pledged funding worth US$ 150 million to speed up manufacturing of doses. Bill Gates has also invested in several different vaccine candidates to prioritise development.