There is reduced supply, but all economies will get doses: WHO

So far, more than 38 million doses across six continents, supplied by three manufacturers, AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech and the Serum Institute of India have been delivered

The COVAX vaccine facility expects to deliver COVID-19 doses to all participating economies that have requested it in the first half of the year despite reduced supply availability as well as increased demand for the jabs in India, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The COVAX facility, which is a global initiative to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide, has now delivered life-saving vaccines to over 100 economies since making its first international delivery to Ghana on February 24, 2021.

So far, more than 38 million doses across six continents, supplied by three manufacturers, AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech and the Serum Institute of India (SII) have been delivered. Of the over 100 economies reached, 61 are among the 92 lower-income economies receiving vaccines funded through the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC).

COVAX aims to supply vaccines to all participating economies that have requested vaccines, in the first half of 2021, despite some delays in planned deliveries for March and April, a news release from the WHO said on Thursday.

“Despite reduced supply availability in March and April, the result of vaccine manufacturers scaling and optimising their production processes in the early phase of the rollout, as well as increased demand for COVID-19 vaccines in India, COVAX expects to deliver doses to all participating economies that have requested vaccines in the first half of the year,” the release said.

According to its latest supply forecast, COVAX expects to deliver at least two billion doses of vaccines in 2021. In order to reach this goal, the COVAX facility will continue to diversify its portfolio further, and will announce new agreements with vaccine manufacturers in due course, the WHO release added.

UK rolls out traffic light system to lift curbs

A traffic light system, which will categorise countries based on risk alongside the restrictions required for travel, has been rolled out by the UK government as part of plans to lift the current restrictions on non-essential overseas travel to control the spread of COVID-19. The system, which slots countries under a red, amber and green system, will determine which set of travellers require varying degrees of hotel or home quarantine, with a stringent Coronavirus testing regime in place.

Oz to get extra 20 mn doses of Pfizer jab

Australia said on Friday that it has finalised a deal to buy an extra 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine as it rapidly pivots away from its earlier plan to rely mainly on the AstraZeneca vaccine. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced it after saying they would stop using the AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged under 50.

S Korea to extend curbs by 3 weeks

South Korea on Friday announced its decision to extend the tightened quarantine measures for three more weeks amid a resurgence of new COVID-19 cases. The ban on any gathering of five or more people will be imposed for the same time.

Tokyo to be under semi-emergency

Japan is set to extend a semi-state of emergency over the pandemic to Tokyo and two other prefectures due to the rapid spread of the Coronavirus, the government said on Friday. Tokyo, which will host the Olympic Games in less than four months, confirmed more than 500 new infections on Thursday.

4,15,873
No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours

13,41,25,854
Total no. of cases worldwide

28,05,412
Total no. of deaths worldwide

Source: WHO/Johns Hopkins

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