WHO criticises countries over bilateral deals | Economic Times

Mumbai: World Health Organization (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged countries that have struck bilateral deals with vaccine makers to be transparent on the control of vaccine supply, including volumes secured, pricing and delivery dates.The global health body has warned that such deals were driving up vaccine prices and could delay the launch of COVAX, an initiative aimed at equitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccines to low- and middle-income countries. These bilateral agreements have also resulted in vaccine makers prioritising regulatory approvals in rich countries where the profits are the highest, rather than submitting their data with the WHO for approval. Under the COVAX initiative, 2 billion doses from five vaccine makers have been secured for an equitable distribution. It also includes options to source 1 billion more doses.The WHO aims to start deliveries under COVAX in February. But this timeline might get delayed, as it says more than 39 million doses of vaccine have been administered in 49 high-income countries while in one lowest-income country, just 25 doses have been given.India is expected to receive vaccine doses as part of COVAX. Serum Institute of India has signed up with the facility to deliver up to 400 million doses for low- and middle-income countries.The WHO wants vaccine producers to provide full data for regulatory review and to accelerate approvals, besides asking these companies to allow countries with bilateral contracts to share doses with COVAX, and to prioritise supplies to COVAX rather than striking new bilateral deals. As many as 44 bilateral deals were signed last year between vaccine makers and governments, according to the health body. At least another 12 have already been signed so far in 2021.“This could delay COVAX deliveries and create exactly the scenario COVAX was designed to avoid, with hoarding, a chaotic market, an uncoordinated response, and continued social and economic disruption,” Adhanom said on Monday in the opening remarks at WHO’s executive board meeting. Even as some rich countries and pharma companies speak the language of equitable access, some of them continue to prioritise bilateral deals, going around COVAX, driving up prices and attempting to jump to the front of the queue, he said, adding: “This is wrong.”