By: Staff Writer
January 15, 2021
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says they are not aware of any hoarding of the COVID-19 vaccines and that only 13 out of 34 Caribbean countries have made the down payment for COVAX!
Avril Isaac, communications officer with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), told Caribbean Magazine plus that “we are not aware of any hoarding of COVID-19 vaccines,” within the programme dedicated to Caribbean countries within the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) vaccination programme called COVAX being co-administered by CARPHA and the WHO.
Ms Isaac’s comments come right on time as CARICOM, in a statement recently, having called out larger countries for hoarding vaccines and thus leaving small, more vulnerable Caribbean states out of accessing the vaccine.
CARICOM’s statement read: “As the world grapples with the challenge of controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is deeply concerned at the current prospect of inequitable access to vaccines to address the pandemic, especially for frontline workers and vulnerable populations.”
“The reality is that small states will find it difficult to compete in the market place to ensure equitable access for vaccines.
“Given the transmissibility of the virus, all countries are vulnerable and should work together.
“The Caribbean Community therefore calls for a global summit in the context of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) ACT-A Facilitation Council to discuss equitable access and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Ms Isaacs said about the preparation made for the vaccines for the Caribbean, “Regarding Caribbean countries, 13 have made down payment to COVAX. The down payment represented 15 percent of the cost for approximately 20 percent coverage of their population. CARPHA assisted 9 of those countries with the down payment.”
She added: “Countries that sign on to COVAX will receive vaccines up to 20 percent of the population. Countries can access more than 20 percent, but this will only occur after all countries that requested vaccines have received enough for 20 percent of their population. All 13 countries have made the payment of 15 percent for approximately 20 percent of their population. Countries may procure vaccines if they approach manufacturers on a bilateral basis. CARPHA is not aware of these arrangements but will support its Member States in ensuring due diligence of the vaccines offered, through the Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS).”
The World Health Organisation also told Caribbean Magazine Plus: “In the acute phase of the pandemic, COVAX’s initial focus will be on securing sufficient supply and resources to provide all economies with vaccines to meet the initial target of 20 percent of the population, subject to country readiness and availability of funding. Vaccines will be allocated equally between self-financing and AMC-eligible economies, based on the WHO-developed Fair Allocation Framework.
“Additional doses of vaccine beyond that 20 percent number shall be allocated after all Participants have been offered or allocated their initial 20 percent. Participants have the ability to opt for lower coverage.
CARICOM’s statement continued however, “The inextricable link economically, socially, and by virtue of travel with our neighbours and the wider international community, makes it imperative for CARICOM Member States to be afforded access to vaccines as a matter of urgent priority. This action will be mutually beneficial in breaking the transmission of the virus.
Notwithstanding that appeal, the Community will explore all available options to access vaccines in order to protect its population from the ravages of the pandemic.”
Questions were also put to GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, where it is understood from the WHO to be the entity to be monitoring the global distribution of the vaccine about which countries in the Caribbean and Central America have paid their share of the down payment, however they have not responded to our initial request.