The first vaccines of the COVAX project begin to be distributed

2021/02/26 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• COVID-19
• Berdintasuna
• Etika
• Medikuntza
• Farmakologia
• Osasuna

The first doses of the COVAX project have already reached their destination. This project, promoted by the Global Alliance for Vaccination Gavi, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the Coalition for Preparatory Innovation for Epidemics (CEPI), aims to guide covid-19 vaccines to impoverished countries. The first 600,000 doses and syringes have just arrived in Ghana, and then sent to Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe. Next, Afghanistan, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia and Somalia will come, with the aim of distributing 2 billion doses this year.

The intention of COVAX is that the 92 most impoverished countries receive their vaccines along with the 98 richest economically. To do this, COVAX has received national and international funding, the European Union being the one that has contributed the most so far.

The first doses they have distributed correspond to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. In fact, WHO previously authorized two versions of this vaccine: Performed by AstraZeneca-SKBio in South Korea and produced by the Serum Institute in India.

These vaccines have remarkable advantages in mRNA compared to those of the solar (Pfizer and Modern): Having to be stored at 2-8ºC and not at freezing temperatures, its management is much simpler. It is recommended that it be taught in all age bands for over 18 years.

As in Europe and elsewhere, the permission received is emergency, that is, a close follow-up of vaccinations will be made to collect the data and, based on them, obtain the final authorization.