Feb 3, 2021 11:51 AM EDT
GENEVA (AP) A U.N.-backed program to deploy COVID-19 vaccines to the neediest people worldwide, especially in poor countries, announced plans Wednesday for an initial distribution of 100 million doses by the end of March and 200 million more by July hoping to catch up with rich countries that are already deep into rollouts.
Leaders of the COVAX Facility, which seeks a fair distribution of vaccines at a time of short supply, said nearly all of the doses expected for the initial-phase rollout are to come from British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca and its partner, the Serum Institute of India.
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The Covax initiative, which seeks to ensure equitable global access to Covid-19 vaccines, hopes to deliver a dose to 3.3 per cent of the populations of 145 countries by the end of the first half of 2021.
An interim report by the UN-backed facility said 337 million doses should be enough to protect the most vulnerable groups, such as health workers, in countries that face difficulties in obtaining vaccines.
It is expected that more than 100 million doses will be delivered by the end of March.
Almost all of the distribution in the first half of the year will come from UK pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and its Indian partner, the Serum Institute of India.
Colombia is one of the 18 countries set to receive the Pfizer vaccine Jamey Keaten, Associated Press 03 February, 2021 15:22
A UN-backed programme to deploy Covid-19 vaccines to the neediest people worldwide has announced plans for an initial distribution of some 100 million doses by the end of March and more than 200 million more by the end of June.
The Covax Facility, which is seeking the fair distribution of vaccines at a time of short supplies, said that nearly all of the doses expected for the first phase would come from British/Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca and its partner, the Serum Institute of India.
Dr Seth Berkley, chief executive of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said Covax planned for the initial distribution of 336 million doses of the vaccine, which AstraZeneca developed with Oxford University, through June to dozens of countries.
UN-backed program seeks rollout of 100M vaccine doses in Q1 washingtonpost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from washingtonpost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Study finds COVID-19 vaccine may reduce virus transmission
What to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine By Associated Press | February 3, 2021 at 11:09 AM CST - Updated February 3 at 9:18 PM
(AP) - AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine shows a hint that it may reduce transmission of the virus and offers strong protection for three months on just a single dose, researchers said Wednesday in an encouraging turn in the campaign to suppress the outbreak.
The preliminary findings from Oxford University, a co-developer of the vaccine, could vindicate the British government’s controversial strategy of delaying the second shot for up to 12 weeks so that more people can be quickly given a first dose. Up to now, the recommended time between doses has been four weeks.