The aim of the UN-backed COVAX scheme is to get two billion vaccine doses into the arms of around a quarter of
the population of poorer co
untries by the end of 2021; however, some main challenges ne
ed to be overcome if this historic global effort is to be achieved.
Here are five things to know about the challenges facing COVAX, and how they can be overcome.
First is export controls. Early on in
the pandemic, UNICEF built up a stockpile of half a billion syringes in warehouses outside the co
untries producing them. Its foresight paid off: co
untries put export controls on syringes, prices spiked, and supplies were limited. Several co
untries also placed export controls on vaccines, prompting WHO to warn against “vaccine nationalism”, which encourages hoarding, and has the effect of pushing prices up and ultimately prolonging
the pandemic, the restrictions need
ed to contain it, and human and economic suffering.
Second, getting vaccines to those who need it is not easy. Whilst all of the co
untries that are part of COVAX have the infrastructure need
ed to get pallets of vaccines off cargo planes and into refrigerated warehouses, the next steps can be more complicated.
“Ghana, the first country to receive COVAX doses, has had a good record of distributin
g doses”, says Gian Gandhi, UNICEF’s global COVAX coordinator, “but other co
untries, such as those in Francophone West Africa, have found it difficult to muster the resources need
ed to divide up doses and distribute them throughout their territory to the towns and villages where they’re needed. This means that, in many poorer co
untries, most doses are being distributed in large urban centres”.
Third, more funding is need
ed to help rollout in
the poorest co
untries. One way to speed up the vaccine rollout, and the delivery from urban warehouses to remote areas is, quite simply, cash.
UNICEF estimates that an additional $2 billion is need
ed to help
the poorest 92 co
untries to pay for essentials such as fridges, health worker training, expenses for vaccinators, and fuel for the refrigerated delivery trucks, and is calling on donors to make $510m of this available immediately as part of a humanitarian appeal to address u
rgent needs.
Fourth, richer co
untries should share. COVAX is finding itself in competition with individual co
untries doing direct deals with pharmaceutical companies, putting extra pressure on the available supply of COVID-19 vaccines. At the same time, richer co
untries may find themselves with an over-supply of doses.
“We’re calling on these co
untries to share their excess doses, and engage with COVAX and UNICEF as soon as possible”, says Gandhi, “because it will take some legal, administrative and operational gymnastics to get them to where they’re needed. Unfortunately, we’re not currently seeing too many high-income co
untries willing to share”.
Fifth is vaccine hesitancy that has been a continued cause for concern. Despite the overwhelming evidence that vaccination saves lives, vaccine hesitancy, which exists in every country, is still a problem that needs to be constantly addressed.
This phenomenon is partly driven by misinformation surrounding all aspects of Covid-19, which was a concern even before a global health emergency was declared and, in May, the UN launched the Verified campaign, which fights lies and distorted messages, with trusted, accurate information surrounding the crisis.
