Global vaccine group to supply 1.1 billion Novavax doses to Covax

Recent trial shows formulation offers 89 per cent protection against original and Kent strains of the virus

As COVAX co-lead, Gavi oversees the design, coordination and implementation of the COVAX Facility, AFP

Gavi, the vaccine alliance, announced on Thursday that it had signed an agreement with Novavax to supply 1.1 billion doses of the company's NVX-CoV2373 Covid vaccine candidate to the Covax facility.

The advance purchase agreement is a critical step towards making sure doses of the vaccine, should it be approved and licensed, will be made available to all countries participating in the Covax programme.

A recent Novavax trial showed it offers 89 per cent protection against the original and Kent strains of the virus. This figure drops to 60 per cent for the strain first discovered in South Africa.

Gavi's advance purchase agreement with Novavax, coupled with its existing agreement with the Serum Institute of India, underpins the deal.

“This agreement brings the Covax facility one step closer to its goal of supplying vaccines globally and ending the acute phase of the pandemic,” said Dr Seth Berkley, Gavi chief executive.

“It helps us close in on our goal of delivering two billion doses in 2021, and increases the range of vaccines available to us as we build a portfolio suitable for all settings and contexts.”

As Covax co-lead, Gavi oversees the design, co-ordination and implementation of the facility, a global mechanism that seeks to procure, equitably allocate and deliver at least two billion doses of safe and effective Covid vaccines by the end of 2021.

Ninety-eight higher-income economies have signed up as self-financing members of the facility, joining 92 low and middle-income economies who will have their participation supported by the Gavi Covax advance market commitment.

"Gavi's role in ensuring widespread and equitable access to vaccines worldwide is critical to solving this global public health crisis," said Stanley C Erck, president and chief executive of Novavax.

“This partnership represents significant progress in [our] quest to deliver an urgently needed safe and effective vaccine across the globe.”

The accord marks an auspicious day for Covax. US President Joe Biden will use his first big presidential moment on the global stage at Friday’s G7 summit to encourage member states to make good on their pledges to the organisation.

He will also announce that the US will soon release $4 billion for an international effort to bolster the purchase and distribution of coronavirus vaccines to poor nations, White House officials said on Thursday.