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Gavi is co-leading COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. This involves coordinating the COVAX Facility, a global risk-sharing mechanism for pooled procurement and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
What is COVAX?
COVAX is the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator
The ACT Accelerator is a ground-breaking global collaboration to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.
COVAX is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi and the World Health Organization (WHO), alongside key delivery partner UNICEF. Its aim is to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines, and to guarantee fair and equitable access for every country in the world.
For any enquiries about the COVAX Facility, please contact covax@gavi.org.
Latest COVAX news
Gavi and Moderna agree to cancel remaining volumes under existing COVAX supply agreement.
The COVAX Facility is seeking expressions of interest from the subject matter experts to join the COVAX Independent Product Group. The Independent Product Group (“IPG”) is established to provide scientific advice on COVID-19 vaccines and make…
Gavi’s Board Meeting emphasizes public health impact with renewed push for routine immunization and reaching zero-dose children.
COVAX calls for urgent action to close vaccine equity gap
COVAX has access to enough COVID-19 vaccines to help protect 70% of the population in 91 lower-income countries
The White House today announced that US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance have partnered to create the COVAX Rapid Financing Facility, which will provide up to US$ 1 billion to accelerate COVID-19…
World leaders commit US$ 4.8 billion to help Break COVID Now
Summit sees US$ 4.8 billion in commitments, securing vital cash to help lower income countries boost vaccinations now, secure equitable access for new vaccine procurements plus additional help for countries looking to procure their own vaccines…
This new partnership comes as Gavi seeks to raise additional funds to support COVAX. April 8 will see Germany, Indonesia and Senegal co-host the 2022 Gavi COVAX AMC Summit, where governments, international organisations, civil society and the…
Indonesia and Senegal to co-host 2022 Gavi COVAX AMC Summit, together with Germany
The governments holding the presidencies of the G7, the G20 and the African Union will co-host a summit to raise new urgent funding for global vaccination in lower-income economies, a sign of renewed international cooperation and a continued…
COVAX in humanitarian settings
COVAX has supplied nearly half of the vaccines administered by governments in humanitarian settings and, along with the UN’s Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), set up the Humanitarian Buffer to address the hardest-to-fill gaps in fragile and conflict contexts.
COVAX Facility Governance
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is the legal administrator of the COVAX Facility, and has overseen the establishment of the COVAX Facility Advance Market Commitment (AMC) Engagement Group - a governance body comprising economies that are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines through the Gavi COVAX AMC - and the COVAX Facility Shareholders Council - composed of self-financing participants.
COVAX Facility AMC Engagement Group
Mandate: Established by the Gavi Board to convene representatives from implementing countries, donors and other parties engaged in the financing and operation of the AMC portion of the Facility, with the aim of providing strategic guidance and advice to the Office of the COVAX Facility on the operational aspects of the COVAX Facility.
Membership: Open to all implementing countries, donors, other partners engaged in financing and operations of the AMC portion of the Facility. A representative from each of WHO, PAHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, and Civil Society has a permanent observer seat.
Meeting minutes
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2022: 15 March | 8 June | 28 September | 30 November
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2021: 27 January | 17 March | 17 May | 12 July | 12 October | 6 December
Co-Chairs
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Harjit Sajjan |
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Retno L.P. Marsudi |
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Lia Tadesse |
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COVAX FACILITY SHAREHOLDERS COUNCIL (2021-2022)
Mandate: Established by the Gavi Board to convene Self-Financing Participants (SFPs) of the COVAX Facility with the aim of providing strategic guidance and advice to the Office of the COVAX Facility on the operational aspects of the COVAX Facility. It received regular updates from the Office of the COVAX Facility, including reports on allocation decisions and overall activities, and decisions or recommendations made by technical bodies (MSDC, Independent Product Group, Procurement Reference Group and Independent Allocation Validation Group) and the Board. This group was formally dissolved by the Gavi Board at the end of 2022.
Membership: Open to all SFPs. A representative from each of WHO, PAHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, Civil Society and the AMC92 Group has a permanent observer seat.
Meeting minutes
- 2022: 16 March | 31 May | 1 December
- 2021: 28 January | 18 March | 18 May | 14 July | 14 October | 8 December
Co-Chairs
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Dr. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou |
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Dr. Fernando Ruiz |
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Why we need COVAX
Developing a vaccine against COVID-19 is the most pressing challenge of our time - and nobody wins the race until everyone wins.
The global pandemic has already caused the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and disrupted the lives of billions more. As well as reducing the tragic loss of life and helping to get the pandemic under control, introduction of a vaccine will prevent the loss of US$ 375 billion to the global economy every month. Global equitable access to a vaccine, particularly protecting health care workers and those most-at-risk is the only way to mitigate the public health and economic impact of the pandemic.
What COVAX offers
Doses for at least 20% of countries' populations
Diverse and actively managed portfolio of vaccines
Vaccines delivered as soon as they are available
End the acute phase of the pandemic
Rebuild economies
Gavi's role in COVAX
- COVAX Facility
Gavi is coordinating the development and implementation of the COVAX Facility, the global procurement mechanism of COVAX. The COVAX Facility will make investments across a broad portfolio of promising vaccine candidates (including those being supported by CEPI) to make sure at-risk investment in manufacturing happens now. This means the COVAX Facility, by pooling purchasing power from all countries that participate, will have rapid access to doses of safe and effective vaccines as soon as they receive regulatory approval. Guided by an allocation framework being developed by WHO, the COVAX Facility will then equitably distribute these doses to help protect the most at-risk groups in all participating countries.
Gavi is coordinating the development and implementation of the COVAX AMC, the financing instrument that will support the participation of 92 lower-middle and low-income economies in the COVAX Facility. The COVAX AMC is critical to ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of income level – and requires an urgent investment of US$ 2 billion, from sovereign donors, philanthropies and the private sector, by the end of 2020. The COVAX AMC and associated support to the eligible countries that apply will build on Gavi’s two decades of experience delivering life-saving vaccines to more than half of the world’s population, including in the hardest to reach communities.
- Country readiness & delivery
Gavi is working with Alliance partners UNICEF and WHO to ensure that the infrastructure is in place, and the technical support available, to make sure COVID-19 vaccines can be safely delivered to all those who need them. Gavi is also part of the health systems work of the ACT-Accelerator effort, focusing on areas where it has expertise and experience, such as cold chain.
Key COVAX articles
View moreHow did Kenya surpass its 2021 COVID-19 vaccination target?
Kenya was aiming to reach 10 million people with COVID-19 vaccines by the end of December 2021. Thanks to a clear strategy, COVAX support and the hard work of thousands of health workers, they reached their target.
We can stop the cycle of new variants continuing indefinitely with a pandemic vaccine pool
Without it we could face further delays in the global rollout and risk the gulf between the vaccine haves and have nots widening.
COVAX and the other international organizations committed to vaccine equity cannot end the COVID-19 pandemic without the continued support of governments, industry, and civil society. By working together, the world has a chance to tame the…
Vaccination started off slow, but has steadily increased over 2021 thanks to public health messaging and vaccine deliveries.
All around the world, COVAX deliveries are helping to protect frontline health workers, reach nomadic communities, reunite families and allow schools to reopen. Since deliveries began in March, #VaccinesWork has been publishing snapshots that…
How the public came together to support COVID-19 vaccines for the world’s most vulnerable
People around the world have demonstrated global solidarity by donating to the COVAX Facility, providing vaccines to those who would otherwise have no access.
COVAX documents
DocumentsLast updated: 1 Dec 2023