COVAX Vaccine Distribution Begins in Africa, Globally

Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, pictured here, is one of many officials who has expressed concerns over the growing gap in access to vaccines between developed and developing nations. (Flickr)

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire became the first African countries to administer vaccines procured through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX) on February 24. Nigeria and Angola also received a shipment of vaccines via the program shortly thereafter, with more shipments of free vaccines expected to be delivered in Africa and around the world in the coming months.

In total, the four African countries received well over 5 million doses, with 3.94 million doses delivered to Nigeria, 600,000 doses to Ghana, 624,000 doses to Angola, and 504,000 doses to Ivory Coast. Although each country has its own distribution plan, the vaccines are generally expected to be distributed to essential workers, including healthcare workers, teachers, and first responders.

COVAX is jointly administered by the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). The program is implemented by UNICEF and acts on the behalf of 142 countries. By providing vaccines for free, the program is meant to serve as a bridge between developed and developing countries, as well as between vaccine producers and various transnational organizations, in order to ensure adequate and equitable access to vaccines in the developing world. 

Thus far, the program has procured and delivered the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine exclusively, and it plans to deliver 237 million doses to 142 countries by the end of May. 

This encouraging news comes amid increasing concerns among immunologists and global health experts about more dangerous COVID-19 variants and the decisions of some developed countries to horde vaccine doses for their own citizens. 

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has repeatedly stressed the importance of equity in vaccine rollouts internationally. “We have made great progress. But that progress is fragile. We need to accelerate the supply and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, and we cannot do that if some countries continue to approach manufacturers who are producing vaccines that COVAX is counting on,” He said, referencing some developed countries’ attempts to purchase the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

He has also argued that companies should cede their intellectual property rights concerning vaccines in order to increase production and access. 

The World Trade Organization, with its new head Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria, is set to discuss the issue of waving intellectual property rights next week, as pressure builds on the organization to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines.