COVID-19 – COVAX global initiative gives 6.3 bln USD for vaccine procurement

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that to date the global initiative for equal access to the COVID-19 vaccine, COVAX, has disbursed 6.3 billion U.S. dollars to procure vaccines for a number of countries around the world.

The statement was delivered at a virtual meeting of the COVAX Advance Market Commitment Engagement Group (AMC EG) chaired by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi along with Ethiopian Health Minister Lia Tadesse and Canadian Minister for International Development Karina Gould on Thursday (March 17).

The WHO further said it had made agreements with some vaccine manufacturing companies to provide 2.3 billion doses of vaccine against the coronavirus.

The meeting discussed vaccine allocations and delivery schedules for AMC countries until the end of 2021.

In addition, the AMC EG meeting also underlined the importance of securing funding for the COVAX Facility to meet vaccine needs, especially for developing and least developed countries.

Campaigns for additional financial support will continue to be carried out at such international meetings as the G7, G20, the United Nations General Assembly, and other international events.

Reporting by Indonesia Window