Component 1: The COVAX Facility
PAHO supports the global access efforts within the “WHO Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT)” and its vaccine pillar COVAX through its Revolving Fund. The COVAX Facility is the only global initiative that works with governments and manufacturers to ensure safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are available to the highest risk populations worldwide, regardless of income level. Member States participating in the COVAX Facility through the PAHO Revolving Fund are recognized as a regional bloc. 36 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean are participating in the COVAX Facility. There are two groups of participating countries in the COVAX facility:
- Self-financed countries: Member States that are maintaining and self-financing their immunization programs.
- COVAX Advanced Market Commitment (AMC) countries: Ten countries and territories in the Region are eligible for support from the COVAX AMC: Bolivia, Dominica, El Salvador Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines. AMC countries receive their doses at no cost to cover 20% of their population.
PAHO’s Role in the COVAX facility
Under the COVAX Facility, PAHO RF is the designated procurement agency wi for all interested Member States in the Region of the Americas. In close collaboration with UNICEF, the PAHO RF has been assisting the implementation of the procurement strategy for the COVAX Facility.
The Revolving Fund has also been assisting countries in:
- Assisting countries in understanding and preparing to meet the COVAX requirements, including financial, legal, programmatic, regulatory, among others.
- Updating countries about market dynamics and financial projections to estimate their investment in COVID-19 vaccines.
- Forecasting and securing supplies related to vaccine administration, such as syringes and safety boxes.
- Supporting regular demand planning so that routine immunization programs can continue safely.
- Under certain conditions when bridge funding is required to access COVID-19 vaccine doses in a timely manner, the Revolving Fund is working with countries to extend financial credits.
- Channeling down payments to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for countries with administrative restrictions.
- International bidding and joint tender with UNICEF, establishing long-term agreements with suppliers to issue price estimates, purchase orders, and requisitions in record time.
- Coordinating and monitoring international logistics for 36 countries in the Americas region.
- Advocating for donations to the Region and supporting coordination and country readiness.
For more information on the COVAX Facility, visit Gavi: COVAX facility and WHO: COVAX facility
Component 2: Donations
PAHO has been advocating for more doses to be donated to the region of the Americas and through its Revolving Fund has been proactively involving in planning and operations along with the US government for its bilateral donations and COVAX donated doses from Sweden, Norway, Spain, and Canada, among others. The Revolving Fund is providing guidance to direct the resources to the most needed and expediting and removing bottlenecks with donors.
Component 3: Regional access to additional COVID-19 vaccine
As requested by Member States (MS), through its RF, PAHO is working to facilitate regional access to additional COVID-19 for MS during Q4, 2021 and 2022. Leveraging more than 40 years of experience, PAHO is seeking to improve market dynamics for the Region by applying its principles of quality assurance, pooling, and solidarity. The RF’s objective is to amplify its support, on behalf of MS to access vaccine supply by consolidating demand and guiding countries through market dynamics and innovative financial considerations to meet their vaccine needs.
For more information on the COVAX Facility, visit Gavi: COVAX facility and WHO: COVAX facility
