The global COVAX initiative will continue in 2022, the further development of this mechanism for providing vaccines against COVID-19 will depend on the situation, World Health Organization (WHO) representative, Head of the WHO Country Office in Ukraine, Dr. Jarno Habicht has said.
He said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine that in 2022, this work will continue for sure, but later they will see if there will be a need for it. Many countries are now organizing their own ways to obtain and purchase vaccines, including Ukraine. For example, Ukraine, on the basis of bilateral agreements, has purchased 15-20 million doses of vaccine.
It is important for the WHO to make sure there is enough vaccine, Habicht said.
For example, for Ukraine, the situation is such that it is, in a sense, even easier for it to get a vaccine than for countries that have a higher level of income, he said.
Commenting on the availability of facilities for the production of COVID-19 vaccines, Habicht said that the number of manufacturers is now constantly growing, as is the number of production sites that are located in different countries.
The COVAX Global Access Mechanism is a global initiative to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines coordinated by the Vaccine Alliance (former Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, GAVI), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the WHO. COVAX coordinates international resources to ensure that low- and middle-income countries have equal access to COVID-19 tests, therapies, and vaccines. By July 2020, a total of 165 countries have joined COVAX, representing 60% of the human population.
