With Pfizer signing the deal with COVAX, and Moderna in talks, the possibility of these two vaccines becoming available to the public in India and other low middle income countries (LMIC), may soon become reality.
COVAX is a global initiative coordinated by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide equal access to COVID-19 vaccines for 92 LMIC countries. India is eligible to get COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX for vaccinating about 20 percent of its population. India has begun the first wave of COVID-19 vaccinations to inoculate three crore healthcare and frontline workers, using Serum Institute of India's (SII) Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.
Read here on the status check on COVID-19 vaccines in the pipeline for India over next six months
Pfizer and BioNTech on January 22 said they have signed an advanced purchase agreement with COVAX for up to 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in 2021, subject to the execution of additional agreements under the COVAX structure.
Neither Pfizer nor COVAX have provided the procurement price details of the vaccine.
Cold storage barrier
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has already received emergency use listing from the WHO. Pfizer said it will work with the countries to put in place cold chain requirements for the rollout of the vaccines.
"As we prepare to provide these first doses, we will provide support so that countries can ensure that solid systems are in place for vaccine delivery, building on our recent innovations in packaging to manage cold chain requirements," Pfizer said in a statement
"Establishing the infrastructure needed to administer breakthrough mRNA vaccines in developing countries will not only help the world fight this pandemic but make us more prepared for the next one," the statement added.
Earlier this month, US biotech Moderna told Moneycontrol that it is still in discussions with COVAX, but is yet to sign an agreement.
"We are actively participating in discussions with multilateral organizations, such as COVAX. Moderna understands the important role that multilateral organizations will play in helping to expand access and protect populations around the world," Moderna said in an email statement.
Both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are based on the messenger RNA platform and have efficacy rates of over 90 percent. While they are now available in the developed world, the high price tag and low cold storage temperature requirements have made the vaccines inaccessible to most low and middle income countries including India.
Also unlike AstraZeneca and Novavax who have tied up with SII, Johnson & Johnson with Biological E and Russia's RDIF with Dr Reddy's and Hetero for Sputnik V vaccine, to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines locally, Pfizer and Moderna haven't yet entered into any such tie-ups. Analysts say given the novelty of the mRNA, technology is possibly the reason for them not to enter.
COVAX has now become a gateway for the availability of these vaccines. The Pfizer vaccine was priced at $19.5 per dose, the Moderna charges $32-$37 per dose, according to a presentation by the government. Pfizer requires storage temperature of minus 70°C, Moderna needs to be preserved at temperatures between -25°C and -15°C.
SII the top supplier
The initial focus would be to protect health care and other frontline workers as well as some high-risk individuals. The aim of COVAX is to protect at least 20 percent of each participating population by the end of the year.
The major chunk of vaccine doses for COVAX will be coming from the Serum Institute of India (SII). COVAX has signed agreements to buy 200 million doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford University and Novavax vaccines from SII, with an option to secure additional doses based on requirement. Of these first 100 million doses, the majority are earmarked for delivery in the first quarter of the year, pending WHO Emergency Use Listing. The AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine requires 2-8°C and is priced at $3 per dose, making it the most affordable and convenient COVID-19 vaccine.
The WHO review process, which is currently underway, follows approval for restricted use in emergency situations by the Drugs Controller General of India earlier this month, and is a critical aspect of ensuring that any vaccine procured through COVAX is fully quality assured for international use.
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