COVAX program warned of delays in COVID-19 vaccine distribution as India prioritizes domestic demand

India, world’s largest vaccine maker, slowed global distribution of coronavirus doses in the middle of a strong rebound of cases in the middle of the second wave at this Asian giant, which has aroused the concern of several countries and international organizations.

Among those affected is the COVAX global distribution program, promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO), in which India’s participation is essential, and whose objective is to guarantee equitable access to vaccines against coronaviruses in the world.

“Delivery of anti-covid-19 vaccines to low-income economies participating in the COVAX coalition likely to experience delays following setback in obtaining export licenses” in India assured the agency this Friday Efe a spokesperson for UNICEF, member of the coalition.

The vials contracted for delivery are doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine licensed from the Serum Institute of India (SII) – known as COVISHIELD which should be shipped between March and April.

A WHO statement sent on Friday said that COVAX has informed participants who have received doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine that some of the first deliveries scheduled for March will now take place in April.

The agreement between the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, GAVI, the leader of the COVAX coalition, and the Serum Institute, provided funds to support the increase in manufacturing capacity by 1 billion doses for 64 economies low income.

“COVAX is in talks with the Indian government to ensure deliveries as quickly as possible”, Unicef ​​explained in the message to EFE.

According to data from the international organization, so far COVAX has delivered 28 million doses of Covishield and plans to receive an additional 40 million doses in March and up to 50 million doses by April.

INDIA PRIORITIZES INTERNAL NEEDS

Although the Government of India has not confirmed the delay in the global distribution of vaccines, nor in its diplomatic campaign to provide, under subsidy, the drug to allied countries, the authorities reaffirmed that the shipment of drugs will depend on internal needs.

“The supply of vaccines abroad is based on the assessment of adequate internal availability,” Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said last week in a statement to parliament.

Although Jaishankar assured that “India’s responsibility as a world pharmacy will remain intact”, the delay in supplying vaccines or components to several allied countries has compromised their respective vaccination campaigns.

PROBLEMS IN OTHER COUNTRIES

Uno de los países afectados es Nepal, que suspendió el pasado 18 de marzo su campaña de vacunación, sin que se conozca la fecha de reanudación debido a la espera del suministro de nuevos viales por parte de los proveedores, la gran mayoría de ellos fabricados en India.

The Sri Lankan government, for its part, has started negotiations for the purchase of the Russian formula Sputnik-V following delays in the supply of doses of AstraZeneca serum to India.

“We were told that vaccine distribution has been halted due to the increase in (covid-19) cases in India. They give priority to their own country “, indicated on Friday at Efe the secretary for the prevention of the coronavirus in Sri Lanka, Sudarshani Fernandopulle.

Bangladesh, which has also signed an agreement with the SII to purchase 30 million doses of the drug from AstraZeneca, also confirmed its uncertainty over the arrival of the vaccines.

“We will be looking at our funds on Saturday to get a clear idea of ​​how long we can continue immunizing with the number of doses available,” Bangladesh Health Services Director General Samsul Haque told the Spanish agency.

SECOND WAVE IN INDIA

The delay in cross-border distribution comes at a time when India is facing a sharp rise in the number of infections. As of Friday, nearly 60,000 confirmed cases were confirmed today, the worst data since October in the country of 1.35 billion people.

This second wave is close to the figures recorded during the peak of the pandemic last September, when there were nearly 100,000 new positives per day. As a result, the authorities are seeking to speed up the vaccination process in the country, which on Friday exceeded 55.5 million doses administered.

By Indira Guerrero (EFE)

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