The World Health Organisation (WHO) is urgently seeking to fill the gap left in the COVAX dose-sharing programme by India suspending exports of AstraZeneca doses and is in talks with donors, including the United States, senior WHO officials said on Monday. COVAX, the global alliance to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, urgently needs 20 million doses to cover the interruptions in supply, WHO said.
“COVAX urgently needs 20 million doses during the second quarter of 2021 to cover interruptions in supply triggered by increased demands for vaccines in India where COVAX’s main supplier of the AstraZeneca product is based,” according to a WHO press release.
“In the next few months we do not expect Serum (Institute of India) to be able to supply the kind of (doses) originally predicted,” WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan told a news conference.
Bruce Aylward, a WHO senior adviser, said there was no firm date for resumption of Indian vaccine exports amid its COVID-19…