Equitable Distribution- A possibility or a repeat of 2009 pandemic?

Summary

• WHO is working on a list of priority recipients comprising first-responder healthcare workers, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals.
• Most of coronavirus vaccines are already reserved, many countries are signing deals with vaccine developers in advance for COVID-19 vaccine.
• For equitable distribution of vaccine, 75 countries have submitted their interest to join the COVAX Facility, co-led by Gavi, the CEPI and WHO working in partnership with vaccine manufacturers.
• The goal of COVAX is to deliver two billion safe, effective vaccine doses to all participating countries by the end of 2021.

COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than 18.90 million individuals, including nearly 709,511 deaths, as reported to the WHO (as of 4:16 PM CEST, 7 August 2020).

More than hundreds of COVID-19 vaccine candidates are under clinical and pre-clinical development phase. According to the WHO, there are total of 26 vaccine investigational candidates under clinical development, out of these four are in the late stages of development.

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However, the way emerging COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed to those who need them is still not clear.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is working on a list of priority recipients comprising first-responder healthcare workers, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Now, this is challenging because it is going to require everyone to cooperate.

Race for getting COVID-19 Vaccine, Most Coronavirus Vaccines are Already Reserved

Many countries are signing deals with vaccine developers in advance for production of COVID-19 vaccine after successful completion of end-stage clinical trials. The United States invested in Moderna, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, J&J and Novavax. European Union is in talks with vaccine developers who are in the late stages of clinical trials with their COVID-19 investigational vaccine.

The UK preordered vaccines doses from AstraZeneca and is in talks with GSK-Sanofi. Japanese drug developer Daiichi Sankyo had signed an agreement with AstraZeneca to supply vaccine in Japan.

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Even if a government obtains sufficient doses of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine for its own citizens, some of its population, for example people who are immunocompromised and who are unable to be vaccinated, would be left exposed to coronavirus if other nations are incapable to get adequate vaccine.

By working in partnership with global health organisations via COVAX Facility, the governments could make sure that everyone has equal access to an effective COVID-19 vaccine.

2009 H1N1 pandemic & COVID-19 pandemic

The concept of Vaccine nationalism surfaced a decade ago, during 2009 H1N1 pandemic. It is reflected through some countries disclosing that vaccine produced in their respective countries will be only available for its citizens, as not all nations are engaged in the production of the vaccine. Hence, there is a possibility of many people across the world to be left without vaccine, and everybody would suffer this way.

During H1N1 pandemic 2009, few countries cornered the vaccine market, leaving most of the global population without any vaccine till the pandemic was successfully over.

During the current turmoil, this scenario must be avoided at all costs, and this could become possible with COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX facility).

Equitable distribution

There are already plans for ensuring the equitable worldwide distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, resulting from any biomedical innovations. At present, the main challenge for the governments and public health experts is how the vaccine will be distributed.

Without any global mechanism for the equitable allocation of COVID-19 vaccines across the world, rich nations will outbid poor nations and dominate the supply. The WHO is also concerned about the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine.

WHO warns 'Vaccine Nationalism' cannot beat COVID-19

WHO recently, on 6 August, stated that it would be in the interest of wealthier nations to make sure that any vaccines ultimately manufactured to safeguard from the novel coronavirus should be distributed worldwide.

Moreover, the WHO also added that the presence of the fatal respiratory infection anywhere sets lives and livelihoods at risk all over.

In spite of these challenges, efforts are going on to make sure the equitable distribution of vaccines.

Nearly 75 nations have submitted interest to protect their citizens and of other countries by joining the COVAX Facility, which is designed to ensure rapid, fair, as well as equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines around the world.

What is COVAX Facility-

COVAX is the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator and is co-led by Gavi, the CEPI and WHO, working in partnership, with developed, as well as developing countries’ vaccine manufacturers.

Presently, COVID-19 vaccine development is a mammoth task, and no one wins until everyone wins. COVID-19 turmoil has already resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and disrupted lives and livelihood of billions worldwide.

Global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccine, especially protecting frontline workers, and those who are at risk is the only way to mitigate the public health and economic impact of the coronavirus.

COVAX Facility Offers-

The objective of COVAX is to provide two billion safe, effective vaccine doses to all participating nations comprising the 92 AMC-eligible economies, by the end of next year. After a vaccine has been prequalified by the WHO or approved by regulatory agencies, the COVAX Facility will buy these vaccines with an intention to try and begin with delivering doses for an average of 20% of every nation’s inhabitants.

The focus would be on health care workers, elderly and vulnerable groups. Additionally, doses will be made available based on financing, vulnerability, country requirement, along with the potential threat. Moreover, a buffer of vaccine doses will also be kept for emergency and humanitarian use.

Bottomline

If countries across the world compete to develop effective COVID-19 vaccines and treatment, there will be no winners. The threat posed by SARS-CoV-2 sees no borders. At present, only a well-organised global strategy that harnesses the excellent science & technology and provides the vaccine to everyone in need can effectively combat COVID-19 and upcoming pandemics.