Health
COVID-19 and the rise of vaccine nationalism
THE IDEAL SCENARIO The quickest way to control the pathogen with limited vaccines |
THE LONE GLOBAL EFFORT COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX) INVESTED IN 13 VACCINES Three groups—the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which works to advance new vaccines, and Gavi, a global non-profit group focused on vaccine delivery—have set up COVAX to distribute vaccines equitably around the world. It plans to invest in the development of 12 experimental vaccines and has reached out to high income countries for $18 billion for the same. More than 70 countries have indicated an interest in joining COVAX, though none have formally done so. They will have to commit by the end of August. The US, India and Russia have declined to participate. The group has so far struck a $750 million agreement for 300 million doses of Oxford/ AstraZeneca candidate vaccine AZD1222 with delivery starting this year end |