Canada to receive significant doses from Covax fund meant to ensure access for poor countries; Chile and New Zealand to also receive above-average Covax doses
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On Wednesday, the chief executive of Gavi, one of the organisations that is helping to administer Covax, was asked if it was helpful that many wealthy countries did not opt to take vaccines from the first batch that will be distributed. “Of course it helps,” Seth Berkley, Gavi CEO, said. “That means there are more doses available for others.”
The supply through Covax – which is not final and subject to manufacturing and logistical delays – represents a boost to the six million doses Canada was already expecting from Pfizer and Moderna before the end of March.
Related: Canada takes Covax vaccines despite side deals
More on Canada’s vaccine supply now, from the Guardian’s Michael Safi and Leyland Cecco:
Global health authorities have criticised countries for making private deals that they say push up vaccine prices and represent a form of “double-dipping” – taking supplies from Covax while at the same time signing private deals that make it harder for the facility to secure doses that would be shared equitably.
