Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has signed advance purchase agreements with Sinovac and Sinopharm for the purchase of 110 million vaccine doses for COVAX — a platform meant to ensure fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The agreement would enable the supply of the Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines for the third quarter of 2021.
The agreement with Sinopharm includes 60 million doses that will be made available from July through October 2021, with an option for Gavi to purchase another 60 million for this year’s fourth quarter and 50 million more doses for the first half of 2022.
How countries are adapting to AstraZeneca vaccine shortages
Countries that received vaccine shipments through COVAX are now waiting for the second shot. Some have started mixing vaccines, while others are looking at other means to secure doses.
Meanwhile, the agreement with Sinovac includes 50 million doses that will be made available from July through September 2021. Gavi has the option to purchase 150 million more doses for the fourth quarter of 2021 and 180 million additional doses for the first half of 2022.
Why it matters: The agreements will help boost COVAX’s vaccine supply, which has been heavily affected by the Serum Institute of India’s decision to prioritize domestic supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Both Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines have received World Health Organization emergency use listings, and have been in use in several low- and middle-income countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
