IMF, World Bank, WHO, WTO launch Website for COVID-19 Vaccine information

*The global organisations disclose the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccines information Website is an initiative of the Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics for Developing Countries to improve clarity and transparency around the evolving vaccine market, expected production volumes, delivery schedules, and pre-purchase options around the world

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

In a move to provide important and factual information about the activities of the international organisations at tackling the disruptive Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across the world, the heads of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Group, World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) have launched a new Web site July 20, 2021.

ConsumerConnect reports the United Nations (UN) agencies said new information site would serve as a platform for information on access to COVID-19 Vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, and on the activities of the organisations in tackling the pandemic around the world.

COVID-19 Vaccines

According to the information on the WTO Web site, the new virus vaccines access information Web site is an initiative of the Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics for Developing Countries, which was set up to identify and resolve impediments to vaccine production and deliveries.

It was learnt the Task Force held its first meeting June 30, while the fresh Web site provides an array of data on rates of vaccination and the purchase and deliveries of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics, analysed by country, region and level of income.

A resources section, according to WTO, directs consumers to the activities and initiatives of the four international agencies on COVID-19 related matters.

Kristalina Georgieva (IMF), David Malpass (World Bank), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO) and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (WTO) in launching the site, issued a statement.

They said: “We reiterate the urgency of providing access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments to people throughout the developing world.

“In the area of vaccines, a key constraint is the acute and alarming shortage in the supply of doses to low and low-middle income countries, especially for the rest of 2021.”

The four agencies also noted: “We call on countries with advanced COVID-19 vaccination programs to release as soon as possible as much of their contracted vaccine doses and options as possible to COVAX, AVAT, and low and low-middle income countries.

“We are concerned that vaccine delivery schedules and contracts for COVAX, AVAT, and low and low-middle income countries are delayed or too slow.

“Less than 5% of vaccine doses that were pre-purchased by or for low-income countries have been delivered.”

According to them, their common target is for at least 40 percent of people in low and low-middle income countries of the world to be vaccinated by the end of 2021.

“We estimate that less than 20% of the necessary vaccines is currently scheduled for delivery to these countries, whether through COVAX, AVAT, or bilateral deals and dose-sharing agreements.

“We urge COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to redouble their efforts to scale up production of vaccines specifically for these countries, and to ensure that the supply of doses to COVAX and low and low-middle income countries takes precedence over the promotion of boosters and other activities.”

The statement further said: “We call on governments to reduce or eliminate barriers to the export of vaccines and all materials involved in their production and deployment.

“We underscore the urgent need for all parties to address supply chain and trade bottlenecks for vaccines, testing, and therapeutics as well as all of the materials involved in their production and deployment.”

The UN agencies also explained that as regards the IMF staff’s $50 billion proposal to end the pandemic, and in line with the priorities set out by WHO, WTO, IMF and the World Bank Group, “over $35 billion in grant are needed with only one third of this financed to date.

“We welcome the recent announcement by COVAX and the World Bank to accelerate vaccine supplies for developing countries through a new financing mechanism.

“We also welcome the partnership between the World Bank and AVAT, noting that World Bank financing is now available to support the purchase and deployment of doses secured by both AVAT and COVAX.”

They stated that it is critical to improve clarity and transparency around the evolving vaccine market, expected production volumes, delivery schedules, and pre-purchase options.

“We call on manufacturers to accelerate delivery to developing countries and we call on advanced economies to scale-up near-term deliveries to developing countries,” the statement added.