What is Covax, the agreement signed by more than 172 …

the Covax mechanism -or the Covid-19 Global Vaccine Access Fund, as it is also called- is one of the tools promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Commission and France, to ensure equitable access for all countries to an effective vaccine. It is an agreement signed by at least 172 countries, which functions as a common understanding to distribute doses globally whatever the economic resources of each country.

According to the Minister of Health, Ginés González García, Covax is “a path to distributive equity, which is always important and we all work for it. “” For Argentina, what Covax represents is an opportunity and it can be done thanks to engagement of all countries of the world for the first time, to be able to buy and distribute equitably a vaccine as important as this one, explained the person in charge when Argentina joined the agreement.

WHO itself defines it as the effort to bring together governments, health organizations, laboratories, scientists, philanthropists, and private sector and civil society organizations “With the aim of providing innovative and equitable access to Covid-19 diagnostics, treatments and vaccines.” For WHO, vaccine distribution in all countries is the central focus and pillar of the initiative.

“It’s the only truly global solution for this pandemic because it is the only effort to ensure that people all over the world have access to Covid-19 vaccines once they are available, regardless of their wealth, ”they explained of the agency.

They also noted that Covax will act as a platform to support research, development and manufacture of vaccines and also to negotiate their prices “All participating countries, regardless of their income level, will have the same access to these vaccines once they are developed,” they explained of the WHO of the mechanism’s work.

“The initial goal is to have 2 billion doses by the end of 2021, which should be enough to protect vulnerable and high-risk people, as well as front-line health workers,” they detailed.

From the WHO, they explained that the initiative is fundamental for low-income countries – “who otherwise could not pay for these vaccines” – as well as for richer nations who, although they may be self-financing , do not have bilateral agreements with manufacturers and laboratories. “Covax is literally a lifeline and the only viable way for all citizens to have access to COVID-19 vaccines. “ finished.