Reaction: COAX announcement that it has secured agreement to provide nearly two billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine to poor countries next year

“Today’s announcement shows promise in the global community’s commitment to getting rapid and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines for all countries, no matter the income level. But the COVAX plan alone cannot guarantee full access to the vaccine for the world’s most at risk communities. It will depend on whether the corporations agree to the right price and donors give them enough money to pay for it. Lack of transparency continues to leave too much room for doubt.

“Rich country charity and vaccine donations are not sustainable solutions to the vaccine problem. Donations of effective and appropriate excess vaccines are welcome if pooled for fair and equitable allocation according to the World Health Organisation’s framework.

“Sharing the crumbs from the table does not fix the real barriers to addressing the vaccine inequality crisis. We need a People’s Vaccine, not a profit vaccine”.

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Notes to Editor

Oxfam is part of The Peoples’ Vaccine campaign, which is calling on all vaccine developers to openly share their intellectual property, technology and knowhow to enable the mass production of successful vaccine all over the world.  The call for a People’s Vaccine is backed by past and present world leaders, health experts, faith leaders and economists. For more information visit: https://peoplesvaccine.org