BRAZZAVILLE,
Congo (Republic of the), September 3, 2020/ -- While the race to find
safe and
effective COVID-19 vaccines continues, African countries are
signing up to a ground-breaking initiative, which aims to secure at
least 220 million doses of the vaccine for the continent, once licensed
and approved.
All 54 countries on the continent have expressed
interest in COVAX, a global initiative which is co-led by the Coalition
for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
(Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The partners are
working with governments and manufacturers to procure enough vaccine
doses to protect the most vulnerable populations on the continent.
Through the Gavi-coordinated COVAX Facility, the initiative seeks to
ensure access for all: both higher and middle-income countries which
will self-finance their own participation, and lower-middle income and
low-income countries which will have their participation supported by
the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC).
There are eight
countries in Africa that have agreed to self-finance their vaccine doses
through the COVAX Facility. This expression of interest will turn into
binding commitments to join the initiative by 18 September, with upfront
payments to follow no later than 9 October 2020.
“Equatorial
Guinea has signed up to COVAX as it’s the most effective way to ensure
that our people can access COVID-19 vaccines,” said Hon Mitoha Ondo’O
Ayekaba, Vice Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea.
“We are concerned as some wealthier countries have made moves to secure
their own interests. We believe that through this initiative we can
access successfully tested vaccines in a timely manner and at lower
cost.”
In addition, 46 countries in Africa are eligible for
support from the financing instrument, the COVAX AMC which has raised
approximately US$ 700 million against an initial target of securing US$ 2
billion seed funding from high-income donor countries, as well as
private sector and philanthropists by the end of 2020.
“COVAX is a
ground-breaking global initiative which will include African countries
and ensure they are not left at the back of the queue for COVID-19
vaccines,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
“By reaching beyond the continent to work together with other
governments and manufacturers on a global scale and pooling buying
power, countries can protect the people most vulnerable to the disease
in Africa.”
CEPI is leading COVAX vaccine research and aims to
develop up to three safe and effective vaccines which will be made
available to countries participating in the COVAX Facility. Nine
candidate vaccines are currently being supported by CEPI; two are
currently being tested in South Africa, in addition to other regions
around the world.
“It’s critical that countries in Africa
participate in vaccine trials, in addition to the clinical trials taking
place in other regions of the world,” said Dr Richard Hatchett, Chief
Executive Officer, CEPI. “Testing vaccines on the continent ensures that
sufficient data is generated on the safety and efficacy of the most
promising vaccine candidates for the African population so they can be
confidently rolled out in Africa once vaccines are approved. CEPI is
investing in the research and development of a diverse range of vaccine
candidates, with the aim of delivering safe and effective vaccines to
those who need them most through COVAX.”
Through COVAX, vaccines
that have passed regulatory approval or WHO prequalification will be
delivered equally to all participating countries, proportional to their
populations. Health workers and other vulnerable populations will be
prioritized and then vaccine availability will expand to cover
additional priority populations in participating countries.
African
countries will need to have in place the right systems and
infrastructure to define the regulatory and ethical pathways for a quick
approval of a candidate vaccine. They will need to have logistics and
supply chain systems which can reach not only the traditional target
populations for routine immunizations and campaigns but be ready to
vaccinate a much larger target population.
“To roll out a vaccine
effectively across countries in Africa, it is critical that communities
are engaged and understand the need for vaccination,” said Dr Richard
Mihigo, Programme Area Manager, Immunization and Vaccine Development,
Programme Area Manager, Immunization and Vaccine Development, WHO
Regional Office for Africa. “It is important to already start working
with communities to prepare the way for one of the largest vaccination
campaigns Africa has ever experienced.”
Dr Mihigo, Dr Hatchett
and Vice Minister Mitoha Ondo’O Ayekaba participated in a virtual press
conference on COVID-19 vaccine access in Africa today facilitated by APO
Group.
No comments :
Post a Comment