UNICEF signs up with Serum Institute for 1.1 bn COVID vaccine doses

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 3

In a major boost for India, the UNICEF Executive Director on Wednesday announced a long-term supply agreement with the Serum Institute of India for COVID -19 vaccines – to access two vaccine products through technology transfer from AstraZeneca and Novavax.

UNICEF, along with procurement partners, will have access to up to 1.1 billion doses of vaccines for around 100 countries, for approximately $3 a dose for the low- and lower middle-income countries.

“This is great value for COVAX donors and a strong demonstration of one of the fundamental principles of COVAX – that by pooling our resources we can negotiate in bulk for the best possible deals,” Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, said on Wednesday.

“Sharing pricing information is also a reflection to UNICEF’s commitment to transparency, which we have been demonstrating for the past 10 years by publishing all negotiated prices for a range of commodities,” said Fore.

COVAX is co-led by GAVI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and WHO.

Its aim is to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines, and to guarantee fair and equitable access for every country in the world.