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GENEVA, May 10 (Reuters) - The GAVI Vaccine Alliance is in
talks with COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers including China's
state-owned Sinopharm to expand the COVAX pipeline and secure
doses for distribution, a GAVI spokeswoman said on Monday.
Sinopharm received emergency use listing from the World
Health Organization (WHO) last Friday, making it eligible for
the COVAX programme and bolstering Beijing's push for a bigger
role in inoculating the world.
COVAX, run jointly by GAVI and the WHO to provide doses to
the world's poorest people, has hit major supply problems. To
date the AstraZeneca shot made by the Serum Institute of
India account for most doses rolled out, but authorities there
have restricted exports because of India's massive epidemic.
"GAVI, on behalf of the COVAX Facility, is in dialogue with
several manufacturers, including Sinopharm, to expand and
diversify the portfolio further and secure access to additional
doses for Facility participants," a spokeswoman told Reuters on
Monday in response to a query.
"Following on from the new announcements on Moderna and
Novavax, we will continue to provide updates on any new deals in
due course," she added, referring to the U.S. vaccine makers.
Novavax Inc said on Thursday it has agreed with
GAVI to manufacture and distribute 350 million doses of its
COVID-19 vaccine to countries participating under COVAX.
Moderna will supply 34 million doses of its
COVID-19 vaccine this year to the COVAX programme, with 466
million available next year, Gavi said last week.
GAVI, appealing for full financing of COVAX, said on Monday
that it would require an additional $1.7 billion at the least by
June to lock in supplies for 2021 and early 2022.
(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Jan Harvey and
Louise Heavens)
