Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


UNICEF to Lead Global Initiative to Buy, Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines

VOA News

   The U.N. children's agency said Thursday it would lead the world's
   largest and fastest procurement and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines
   from dozens of makers in the next two years so that no country lacks
   access.

   UNICEF and the World Health Organization co-lead a COVID-19 [1]vaccine
   allocation plan known as COVAX.

   Seventy-six wealthy nations are part of the COVAX plan, which aims to
   buy and provide equitable access worldwide to the shots for 92 low- and
   lower-middle-income countries, [2]according to a UNICEF statement.

   "This is an all-hands on deck partnership between governments,
   manufacturers and multilateral partners to continue the high-stakes
   fight against the COVID-19 pandemic," Henrietta Fore, UNICEF executive
   director, said in a statement. "In our collective pursuit of a vaccine,
   UNICEF is leveraging its unique strengths in vaccine supply to make
   sure that all countries have safe, fast and equitable access to the
   initial doses when they are available."

   In August, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned of
   possible vaccine hoarding by wealthier nations, saying such actions
   would worsen the effects of the pandemic.

   He pushed for the creation of the COVAX Global Vaccines Facility as way
   to share COVID-19 vaccines with developing countries. More than 170
   countries have agreed to take part.

References

   1. https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/covax-explained
   2. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-lead-procurement-and-supply-covid-19-vaccines-worlds-largest-and-fastest-ever

.