Geneva, 12 May 2021 – The Government of Japan yesterday announced that it will host the virtual Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) Summit on June 2nd 2021. The event, co-hosted by Japanese Prime Minister H.E. Yoshihide Suga and José Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Gavi Board, will aim to secure at least US $8.3 billion for 2020-21 in order to accelerate access to 1.8 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses for lower-income economies via the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment by raising an additional US$ 2 billion from donors and the private sector in addition to US$ 6.3 billion raised before the campaign was launched at the “One World Protected” event on April 15th.
The summit host, Japan, which was one of the first countries to join COVAX, has pledged US$ 300 million to Gavi’s 2021-2025 vaccination programmes at the Gavi Global Vaccine Summit in June 2020 and has already disbursed US$ 200 million to COVAX AMC.
Securing 1.8 billion doses would enable the AMC to protect nearly 30% of the population in all AMC countries, or roughly half the entire adult population. Currently, the AMC has funds in place to protect approximately 20% of populations, equivalent to all health and social care workers, elderly and those with underlying health conditions. The additional funds are also urgently needed to diversify the portfolio in times of supply uncertainty; secure access to doses for delivery in 2021 and early 2022; and plan the scenarios and strategy for public health needs for 2022 and beyond.
In addition to securing resources to accelerate global vaccination coverage, the Summit will bring together world leaders, the private sector, civil society and key technical partners to reflect on the challenges, successes and lessons learned; and look ahead to potential scenarios to address the pandemic and bolster global health security for the future.
Notes to editors
The latest table of pledges to the AMC is available here.
About COVAX
COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, is co-convened by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO) – working in partnership with UNICEF as key implementing partner, developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers, the World Bank, and others. It is the only global initiative that is working with governments and manufacturers to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide to both higher-income and lower-income countries.
About Gavi’s role in COVAX
Gavi is focused on procurement and delivery at scale for COVAX: coordinating the design, implementation and administration of the COVAX Facility and the COVAX AMC and working with its Alliance partners UNICEF and WHO, along with governments, on country readiness and delivery. As part of this role, Gavi hosts the Office of the COVAX Facility to coordinate and provide oversight on the operation of the mechanism as a whole and negotiates advance purchase agreements with manufacturers of promising vaccine candidates, on behalf of the 191 economies participating in the COVAX Facility. It also coordinates the operation of, and fundraises for, the COVAX AMC and its no-fault compensation mechanism. As part of this work, Gavi works closely with governments and partners on ensuring country readiness, and funds UNICEF procurement of vaccines as well as partners’ and governments work on readiness and delivery. This includes support for cold chain equipment, technical assistance, syringes, vehicles, and other aspects of the vastly complex logistical operation for delivery.
About Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped to immunise a whole generation – over 822 million children – and prevented more than 14 million deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 73 lower-income countries. Gavi also plays a key role in improving global health security by supporting health systems as well as funding global stockpiles for Ebola, cholera, meningitis and yellow fever vaccines. After two decades of progress, Gavi is now focused on protecting the next generation and reaching the unvaccinated children still being left behind, employing innovative finance and the latest technology – from drones to biometrics – to save millions more lives, prevent outbreaks before they can spread and help countries on the road to self-sufficiency. Learn more at www.gavi.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. View the full list of donor governments and other leading organizations that fund Gavi’s work here
