Gavi is among the groups working with Covax, which is backed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The European partnership is the third to agree worldwide distribution of its vaccine, when approved. It follows on the heels of Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca and US-based biotech Novavax.

Covax aims to deliver two billion vaccine doses globally by the end of 2021. Along with worldwide distribution, the scheme focuses on vaccinating high-risk people first in every country.

The efforts to assure that low-income countries have access to a Covid vaccine come amid worries that developed nations and blocs such as the US and EU will hoard supplies. Agreements between the EU and vaccine manufacturers do, however, contain provisions for supplies to be made available globally.

Sanofi and GSK’s vaccine is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials, for which the companies hope to have the first results by December. Depending on the results of the first round, they plan to start additional trials before the end of 2020.

GSK is providing the adjuvant for Sanofi’s vaccine candidate, which is modified from one of the French company’s seasonal influenza vaccines. Sanofi also has a vaccine alliance with US-based Translate Bio. This partnership is working on an mRNA model that instructs the body’s cells to produce coronavirus proteins that then trigger an immune respon

Altogether, some 180 countries and regions, including China but not the US, are cooperating with Covax. The Serum Institute of India also has signed agreements to manufacture experimental pandemic injections from vaccines made by AstraZeneca and Novavax.

According to the latest count, some 20 pharmaceutical producers currently have Covid-19 vaccines in clinical trials worldwide.

Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist