Covax inks deal for 500m Moderna vaccine doses

Covax inks deal for 500m Moderna vaccine doses

GENEVA: The Covax global vaccine equity program said yesterday it has struck a deal to buy 500 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 jabs. The doses, to come on stream from October at the earliest, will broaden out the portfolio of vaccines in the Covax scheme, which has so far been heavily reliant on the AstraZeneca vaccine and hit by delays. The Moderna doses are expected to start supplying Covax in the final quarter of 2021, with 34 million doses available before the end of the year, the Covax scheme’s co-leader Gavi announced in a statement.

A further 466 million doses will follow in 2022. The Covax facility ensures access to jabs in poor countries, with the cost covered by donors. Wealthier countries can bulk-buy through the scheme. Covax is co-led by the World Health Organization, the Gavi vaccine alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

The scheme aims to distribute enough doses to vaccinate up to 27 percent of the population in the 92 poorest territories participating in the program by the end of the year. “We are very pleased to sign this new agreement with Moderna, giving Covax facility participants access to yet another highly efficacious vaccine,” said Gavi chief