The COVAX facility began the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. The first consignment of 600,000 doses of Covishield or AstraZeneca vaccine was shipped to Ghana from India on Wednesday. The facility also committed to delivering 50,000 doses of vaccine to Bhutan in the first quarter of this year.
Ghana was chosen as the first recipient of the vaccines after promising quick distribution and meeting the criteria set by COVAX. The country is expected to begin the vaccination programme next week. Health workers, people aged 60 and above, and those with underlying health conditions are prioritised for vaccination. The West African country reported more than 8,000 COVID cases and over 500 deaths since the pandemic began.
Bhutan is also a part of the COVAX facility and was promised COVID vaccines for 20 per cent of its population through the facility. Earlier this month the WHO country representative said that Bhutan has fulfilled all the criteria to receive vaccines from COVAX.
The COVAX facility intends to deliver more than two billion doses of COVID vaccines by the end of this year. The facility was set up by the World Health Organisation with two other global partners to ensure poorer countries receive access to COVID vaccines.
Phub Gyem
