Low-middle-income countries will receive 870 million vaccines thanks to G7 leaders and the ACT-Accelerator.
On June 13, the WHO announced that the Access to Covid-19 Accelerator (ACT) will help G7 leaders to donate 870 million vaccines to low-middle income countries. The total funding for the partnership will be worth US$ 15.1 billion with a gap of over US$ 16 billion, and the majority of vaccines will be delivered through COVAX.
Many leaders are in support of using the ACT-Accelerator to help speed the process of global vaccinations. With many low-middle income countries still suffering from the virus, the WHO is hoping that this partnership could be the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Many other countries are now facing a surge in cases — and they are facing it without vaccines,” said WHO director Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus. “We are in the race of our lives, but it’s not a fair race, and most countries have barely left the starting line. We welcome the generous announcements about donations of vaccines and thank leaders. But we need more, and we need them fast.”
To continue to fund the partnership with ACT-Accelerator, over US$ 16 billion will be needed for research, health care workers, and vaccines. The WHO says that these are the tools we need to end the pandemic once and for all, and, without this, who knows when the pandemic will truly stop.
By receiving the US$ 16 billion, 500 million people will be able to receive testing, oxygen supply, and 165 million doses of treatment including dexamethasone. This could help to lower the cases in countries such as India, South Africa, Korea, and more.
“The impact of the pandemic in its second year is already far worse than its first,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “We are seeing significant and devastating outbreaks all over the world — including South Asia, southern Africa, and Latin America. We must continue to sound the alarm.”
Now is the time for more countries to see lower numbers in both death rates and cases. Although the US is continuing to drop in both cases and death rates, many other countries have not been as fortunate. That is why the WHO and G7 are doing their part in supplying vaccines to countries in need.