Leaders of an international body promoting global access to coronavirus vaccines, known as Covax, announced on Friday that additional efforts were being made with manufacturers that would provide access to nearly two billion doses of vaccine candidates, more than that Half were intended to be shipped to low and middle income countries.
The aim of the effort is to ensure vaccination of a fifth of the population of the 190 participating countries and economies before the end of next year.
The new contracts cover vaccines that are still under study for efficacy and safety, one from AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford and one from Johnson & Johnson. As of the ongoing discussions, no agreements have been made to source the FDA-cleared BioNTech Pfizer vaccine, which is already being used in countries such as the US and the UK.
The international effort was led by the Gavi public-private health partnership, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the World Health Organization.
Friday’s announcement contained the news that a mechanism had been developed for countries with overdoses to share it.
Many high-income nations have agreements with multiple manufacturers that could result in significantly more doses than are required to vaccinate their entire population. Officials from Canada and France announced that they intend to contribute their additional doses via Covax, although they have not given a schedule or say whether they would vaccinate their entire population first.
France will “start exchanging vaccines as early as possible,” said Stephanie Seydoux, the country’s ambassador for global health, at a press conference.
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In other developments around the world:
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in the South AfricaScientists and health officials on Friday announced the discovery of a new line of coronavirus that is rapidly dominating virus samples tested in the country. The variant, named 501.V2, has also been associated with faster spread and higher viral load in swabs in a preliminary analysis. Scientists are studying it closely because the variant contains several changes in the part of the virus that allows it to attach to human cells, which is an important target for antibody therapies and vaccines.
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in the Europe, In the run-up to Christmas there is a patchwork of guidelines across the continent as 500,000 people die. . Germany has put a strict lockdown on Christmas week, and the Netherlands and Italy will take stricter measures during the holidays. France and Spain have some restrictions but have opposed new national bans. In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been criticized for lifting restrictions on Christmas gatherings despite the rise in new infections. The Regional Director of the World Health Organization, Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge said in a statement on Friday that it is not now time for Europeans to ease restrictions.
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As coronavirus cases and hospital stays in Sweden continue to rise, the government issued several new recommendations on Friday, including the use of face masks. “We have to do more now because the medical system is tense,” said Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. The new recommendations include a limit of four people per table in restaurants, cafes and bars, as well as a ban on selling alcohol after 8 p.m. Stores, shopping centers and gyms are asked to limit the number of customers further.
