A year ago, scores of countries committed to COVAX, the program set up to deliver COVID-19 vaccines equitably to every corner of the planet. Now the initiative is falling short of its goals.
Facing a 25% cut to COVAX’s supply forecast for the year, its partners are calling on countries that already have enough doses to give up their place in the queue. They also want vaccine-makers to be more transparent about their supply arrangements to ensure developing countries aren’t being disadvantaged.
The organizations behind COVAX, including the vaccine alliance Gavi, cite an array of challenges, including export bans and hurdles some companies have encountered in scaling up production. COVAX expects to have access to about 1.4 billion doses by the end of the year, the groups said Wednesday. That’s down from a June forecast for about 1.9 billion.