Tonga has provided an Expression of Interest to join COVAX to access CoViD-19 vaccines confirmed the Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola.

Joining COVAX means high and middle-income economies (including Tonga), will contribute funds for vaccine research and to ensure fair and equitable access to CoViD-19 vaccines worldwide.

Low-middle income countries such as Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Kiribati, among others, are exempt from contributing funds.

“In terms of payment, negotiation is still ongoing and Tonga is starting to talk with various development partners who have shown interest to support us, on possible options to consider,” said Dr ‘Akau’ola.

COVAX is co-led by Gavi [2], the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization.

Priority population

COVAX is aiming to deliver two billion doses of safe, effective vaccines that have passed regulatory approval and/or WHO prequalification by the end of 2021.

Dr 'Akau'ola explained COVAX plans to provide CoViD-19 vaccines to roughly 20% of a country's total population.

“At the moment, there is a recommendation to use this available vaccine, firstly to vaccinate vulnerable priority population. This group will include the aged/elderly, people with co-morbidity and front-line workers and health staff - involved in CoViD-19 preparedness and response activities.”

“And it will also include other high-risk population that will be decided by each nation's relevant authority in accordance to preferably, a scientifically based criteria for immunizing the population,” he said.

According to a recent statement from Gavi, 172 economies are now engaged in discussions to potentially participate in COVAX.

COVAX will enable countries to have access to the world’s most diverse CoViD-19 vaccine portfolio, which currently includes 9 candidate vaccines and a further nine (9) candidates under evaluation for inclusion.

The COVAX candidate vaccines are:

• Inovio, USA (Phase I/II)
• Moderna, USA (Phase III)
• CureVac, Germany (Phase I)
• Institut Pasteur/Merck/Themis, France/USA/Austria (Preclinical)
• AstraZeneca/University of Oxford, UK (Phase III)
• University of Hong Kong, China (Preclinical)
• Novavax, USA (Phase I/II)
• Clover Biopharmaceuticals, China (Phase I)
• University of Queensland/CSL, Australia (Phase I)

The nine (9) candidates under evaluation include two from USA, two from China, two from India, one from South Korea, one from the UK, and one global multi-manufacture partnership.

- By Eleanor Gee