Back to
New collaboration makes further 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine available to low- and middle-income countries
-
Collaboration among the Serum Institute of India (SII), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will accelerate manufacturing and delivery of up to an additional 100 million doses of future vaccines, if proven to be safe and effective, for low- and middle-income countries in 2021
-
The expansion follows August’s announcement of up to 100 million doses to be delivered by the collaboration, bringing the total now to be delivered by the partnership to up to 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, priced at a maximum of US$ 3 per dose, with an option to secure more
-
Dr Seth Berkley: “This is vaccine manufacturing for the Global South, by the Global South, helping us to ensure no country is left behind when it comes to the race for a COVID-19 vaccine”
Geneva, 29 September 2020 – A further collaboration among the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, Gavi and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will accelerate the manufacture and delivery of up to an additional 100 million doses of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as part of the Gavi COVAX AMC, a mechanism within the COVAX Facility.
This brings the total number of vaccine doses to be covered by the partnership between SII, Gavi, and the Gates Foundation to an aggregate of up to 200 million doses, following the initial agreement announced in August. This arrangement again provides an option to secure additional doses, potentially several times the 200 million dose total, if the COVAX Facility sees a need for it.
The collaboration will provide upfront capital to SII to help it increase manufacturing capacity now so that, once a vaccine, or vaccines, gains regulatory approval and WHO Prequalification, doses can be distributed at scale to LMICs as part of the Gavi COVAX AMC mechanism as early as the first half of 2021.
“This is vaccine manufacturing for the Global South, by the Global South, helping us to ensure no country is left behind when it comes to access to a COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “The momentum behind our effort to ensure global, equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines is really building. Last week we were able to announce the historic number of countries that are now signed up to the COVAX Facility, today we can announce further doses of safe, effective vaccines that will be reserved specifically for low- and middle-income countries. No country, rich or poor, should be left at the back of the queue when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines; this collaboration brings us another step closer to achieving this goal.”
The funding will help accelerate the manufacturing by SII for candidate vaccines licensed from AstraZeneca and Novavax, which will be available for procurement if they are successful in attaining full licensure and WHO Prequalification. The vaccines will have a ceiling price of US$3 per dose, a price enabled by investments made by partners such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and SII.
“The collaboration further bolsters our fight against COVID-19! Through the avid support of Gavi and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we will now manufacture and deliver up to an additional 100 million doses of immunogenic and safe-proven future COVID-19 vaccines to India and low- and middle-income countries in 2021,” said Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India “At this stage, It is important for governments, global health and financial institutions in the public and private sector to come together in ensuring that no one is left behind in the road to recovery. This association is in line with our efforts to see that future vaccines reach the remotest parts of the world providing full immunization coverage in a bid to contain the spread of the pandemic.”
The Gavi COVAX AMC, which is currently seeking at least US$2 billion in initial seed funding, will meet at least part of the cost of procurement for the vaccine doses. The Gavi Board has agreed upon the final list of 92 countries that will be supported by the Gavi COVAX AMC. Under the new collaboration, AstraZeneca’s candidate vaccine, if successful, will be available to 61 AMC-eligible countries. Novavax’s candidate, if successful, will be available to all 92 countries supported by the Gavi COVAX AMC. These countries align with SII’s licensing agreements with the two partners.
“This collaborative effort shows the capacity of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator to bring together diverse partners to ensure a fair and effective response to this global crisis,” said Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The collaboration between Gavi, SII, and the Gates Foundation supports the efforts of the ACT Accelerator's vaccines pillar, also known as COVAX, co-led by Gavi, CEPI and the World Health Organization (WHO), to accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccines and ensure rapid, global access to them. Decisions around investment in manufacturing are taken in close collaboration between these three lead organisations of the COVAX pillar.
Under the COVAX umbrella, Gavi is coordinating the COVAX Facility, which provides governments with the opportunity to benefit from a large portfolio of COVID-19 candidate vaccines using a range of technology platforms, produced by more manufacturers across the world, with a bigger market to provide security of demand.
So far 75 higher-income economies have formally committed to join the Facility, in addition to the 92 low- and middle-income economies that are eligible for support from the Gavi COVAX AMC.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, via its Strategic Investment Fund, will provide at-risk funding of a further US$150 million to Gavi, bringing the total funding provided through this collaboration to US$300 million. This will be used to support the Serum Institute of India to manufacture potential vaccine candidates, and for future procurement of vaccines for low- and middle-income countries via Gavi’s COVAX AMC.
The deal is additional to a Memorandum of Understanding between AstraZeneca and Gavi, announced in June, which will commit an additional 300 million doses of AstraZeneca’s candidate vaccine to the wider COVAX Facility, to be supplied upon licensure or prequalification. These two deals can help assure access to early doses for the most vulnerable on a truly global scale.
Media Contacts
James Fulker, Gavi
Phone: +41 79 429 55 05
Email: jfulker@gavi.org
Related content
Today, the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana began COVID-19 vaccination campaigns aimed at protecting healthcare workers
COVAX announces 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine licensed to Serum Institute of India have arrived in Accra, Ghana; further deliveries to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire are expected this week.
New programme makes compensation available to eligible individuals in 92 low- and middle-income countries without need to resort to law courts.
Today G7 leaders announced a doubling of funding for Gavi COVAX AMC to support lower-income economies obtain life-saving vaccines against COVID-19, ensuring greater equity in fighting to end the acute phase of the pandemic.
The signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Gavi and Novavax is to make a cumulative volume of 1.1 billion doses of the Novavax vaccine candidate available to the COVAX Facility.
COVAX announced the signing of an advance purchase agreement for up to 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine; rollout to commence with successful execution of supply agreements.
A Gavi-funded global emergency stockpile of Ebola vaccines will be accessible to all countries following a procurement process concluded by UNICEF
The United States has approved US$ 4 billion for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance to ensure lower-income economies have equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines on the same urgent timeline as wealthier countries.
COVAX now has agreements in place to access nearly two billion doses of several promising vaccine candidates, and laid the groundwork for further doses to be secured through contributions from donors.
Gavi Board approves more than US$ 600 million in new funding to help accelerate efforts to reach ‘zero-dose’ and under-immunised children in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
High-risk and vulnerable groups and healthcare workers first in line for successful vaccine.
Memorandum of understanding signed today will strengthen collaboration on vaccination efforts and related health services for migrants and forcibly displaced persons across the world
The COVAX AMC Engagement Group, composed of Gavi COVAX AMC participants, donors, and other stakeholders, forms a key component of Facility governance.
The European Commission, France, Spain, The Republic of Korea and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledge US$ 360 million to Gavi’s COVID-19 Vaccines Advance Market Commitment (COVAX AMC)
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance announced today that it had signed a Statement of Intent with Sanofi and GSK to provide 200 million doses of the companies’ adjuvanted recombinant protein COVID-19 vaccine to the COVAX Facility.
Around 450,000 girls aged 9-10 will receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against the leading cause of cervical cancer. Myanmar currently has the second-highest incidence of cervical cancer in Southeast Asia.
Japanese Government pledges US$ 130 million in funding to the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), bringing the total raised to roughly US$ 1.8 billion.
The United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy and Sweden pledge approximately US$ 960 million to Gavi’s COVID-19 Vaccines Advance Market Commitment (COVAX AMC)
The Gavi Board has approved the provision of US$ 150 million in initial funding to jumpstart support COVAX AMC-eligible countries’ readiness to deliver COVID-19 vaccines, in the form of planning, technical assistance and cold chain equipment
Collaboration among the Serum Institute of India (SII), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will accelerate manufacturing and delivery of up to an additional 100 million doses of future vaccines, if proven to be…
Gavi Board unanimously approves the selection of former Prime Minister of Portugal and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso as its new Chair
64 higher income economies have now joined the COVAX Facility, with a further 38 economies expected to sign in the coming days
The funding will support the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), which aims to secure doses of COVID-19 vaccines for 92 low- and middle-income countries and economies at the same time as wealthier nations
Goal of bringing the pandemic under control via equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines needs urgent, broadscale commitment and investment from countries
New landmark collaboration between the Serum Institute of India (SII), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate manufacturing and delivery of up to 100 million doses of future safe and effective COVID-…
Gavi Board agrees scope of COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), which aims to secure doses of COVID-19 vaccines for 92 low- and middle-income countries and economies at the same time as wealthier nations.
New analysis of WHO/UNICEF data by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, shows the gap in vaccine coverage between Gavi-supported lower-income countries and wealthier countries has shrunk to record lows
Seventy-five countries submit expressions of interest to COVAX Facility, joining up to 90 further countries which could be supported by the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC)
Global technology company TransferWise and a donor which asked to remain anonymous made significant financial commitments to Gavi’s Advance Market Commitment for COVID-19 Vaccines (Gavi COVAX AMC)
Gavi Board shows support for continued work on COVAX Facility: a global, coordinated mechanism designed to ensure rapid and equitable access to safe and efficacious COVID-19 vaccines to as broad a global population as possible
DRC government and WHO declare over the long-running Ebola outbreak in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces after more than 50 days without a case.
The Vaccine Alliance ranked in the highest ‘Very good’ category out of 47 international development organisations assessed in the 2020 Aid Transparency Index
The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is doubling its vaccine funding
New supply agreement between UNICEF and Serum Institute of India (SII) makes pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) available at US$2.00 per dose, a 43% reduction from the Gavi price at the start of the AMC
The Global Vaccine Summit, hosted by the UK, raises US$ 8.8 billion from 32 donor governments and 12 foundations, corporations and organisations to immunise 300m children and support the global fight against COVID-19.
Gavi Advance Market Commitment for COVID-19 Vaccines (Gavi Covax AMC) launched at Global Vaccine Summit 2020 draws strong support, early commitments from global leaders.
On the eve of the Global Vaccine Summit 2020, five manufacturers commit to increasing and prioritising HPV vaccine supply to Gavi-supported countries, which have among the highest cervical cancer burdens in the world.
The commitments build on the potency of public private partnerships, which have contributed to Gavi’s success.
Contribution will go towards Gavi’s efforts to deliver life-saving vaccines to children in the world’s poorest countries in 2021-2025 strategic period.
Pledge follows €120 million in direct funding to Gavi Italy announced at last month’s Coronavirus Global Response pledging conference.
Gavi receives US$ 5 million from the Rockefeller Foundation to support health workers facing COVID-19 pandemic
UPS partnership with Gavi builds on successful efforts to expand and improve vaccine delivery in Uganda and some of the world’s most underserved communities.
New funding for Gavi to support lower-income countries’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including supporting health systems.
Funding will support the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in lower-income countries as well as the vaccination of thousands of children in vulnerable Pacific nations.
Agencies call for joint effort to safely deliver routine immunization and proceed with vaccination campaigns against deadly vaccine-preventable diseases.
Canada’s contribution will go towards Gavi’s efforts to deliver life-saving vaccines to children in the world’s poorest countries in 2021-2025 strategic period.
Funding will help immunise 300 million children over the next five years, saving up to 8 million lives, as well as support universal access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Funding will help immunise 300 million children over the next five years, saving up to 8 million lives, as well as support universal access to COVID-19 vaccines.
The funding will help immunise 300 million children over the next five years, saving up to 8 million lives, as well as support universal access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Funding will help Gavi protect the most vulnerable, particularly children, against a range of infectious diseases.
Funding will support Gavi’s response to COVID-19 along with efforts to vaccinate 300 million children across the developing world, saving up to 8 million lives.
Short video platform pledges to support Gavi’s life-saving immunisation programmes and future deployment of COVID-19 vaccines.
As part of Gavi’s work supporting lower-income countries’ response to COVID-19, the Alliance is providing US$ 40 million to UNICEF to secure supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and diagnostics for 58 countries.
Goal of new global collaboration is to make COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines available to everybody that needs them as quickly as possible.
Pledge follows G20 commitment to provide immediate resources to Gavi.
Cash donation supports the Alliance’s response to COVID-19 and helps protect the world against new outbreaks of other infectious diseases.
At least 13.5 million people to miss out on vaccinations due to postponement of campaigns and interruptions in routine vaccinations, with millions more likely to follow.
With senior health officials setting the annual direction for the World Health Organization this week, multiple health challenges and considerations vie for attention amidst a packed agenda. Find out how Gavi helps ensure that immunisation is…
New study shows that immunisation in the world’s poorest countries is set to save millions from one of the primary causes of extreme poverty: health expenses
Agreement will help push vaccine towards regulatory approval.
Support puts Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance on the path to immunise a further 300 million children and save up to 6 million more lives.
Vaccine Alliance ready to begin procurement as soon as WHO recommends a vaccine for use.
Five nations and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launch Advance Market Commitment for vaccines
With an additional US $1 billion per year immunization could save ten million more lives in a decade
Prime Minister of India calls on world leaders to embrace vaccines as key to saving children's lives