‘Positive’ sign from WHO that vaccine’s arrival nearing

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) announcement that the COVAX facility may start distributing COVID-19 vaccines next month is a “positive” sign for The Bahamas, according to COVID-19 Vaccine Consultative Committee Chair Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis.

“The announcement is a good sign for The Bahamas as it likely means we may receive the vaccine sooner,” another committee member told The Nassau Guardian yesterday.

On January 17, the Office of the Prime Minister announced the formation of the consultative committee. 

“The government is working on all fronts to secure COVID-19 vaccines,” it said in a statement. 

“Vaccines are being made available through the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Global Access Facility (COVAX facility). The Bahamas has already made a down payment to secure enough doses to vaccinate 20 percent of the population through the COVAX facility, once available.”

Minister of Health Renward Wells said The Bahamas will secure a vaccine in the first quarter of 2021.

On Friday, WHO announced it signed an advance purchase agreement with Pfizer for up to 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

It said the rollout will commence with the successful negotiation and execution of supply agreements.

WHO also announced that it will exercise an option – via an existing agreement with Serum Institute of India (SII) – to receive its first 100 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford University-developed vaccine manufactured by SII.

A “majority” of the first 100 million doses will be earmarked for delivery in the first quarter of this year, pending WHO Emergency Use Listing, according to WHO.

“The WHO review process, which is currently underway, follows approval for restricted use in emergency situations by the drugs controller general of India earlier this month and is a critical aspect of ensuring that any vaccine procured through COVAX is fully quality assured for international use,” it said.

“According to the latest WHO update, a decision on this vaccine candidate is anticipated by the middle of February.

“COVAX also anticipates that, via an existing agreement with AstraZeneca, at least 50 million further doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine will be available for delivery to COVAX participants in Q1 2021, pending emergency use listing by WHO of the COVAX-specific manufacturing network for these doses.

“A decision on this candidate is also anticipated by WHO in February.”

Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which leads COVAX procurement and delivery, said Friday marked “another milestone” for COVAX, which is co-led by CEPI, Gavi and WHO.

“Pending regulatory approval for the AstraZeneca/Oxford candidate and pending the successful conclusion of the supply agreement for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, we anticipate being able to begin deliveries of life-saving COVID-19 vaccines by the end of February,” Berkley said.

“This is not just significant for COVAX, it is a major step forward for equitable access to vaccines, and an essential part of the global effort to beat this pandemic. We will only be safe anywhere if we are safe everywhere.”

WHO said COVAX intends to provide all 190 participating economies with “an indicative allocation” of doses by the end of this month.

“This indicative allocation will provide interim guidance to participants – offering a minimum planning scenario to enable preparations for the final allocation of the number of doses each participant will receive in the first rounds of vaccine distribution,” it said.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/positive-sign-from-who-that-vaccines-arrival-nearing/