[ad_1]
- WHO has listed Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use
- The UN health agency is spearheading a global effort called COVAX to secure and distribute vaccines to the poorest countries.
- However, the challenging storage and delivery requirements of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine.
The World Health Organization listed Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use on Thursday, in a move to accelerate access in the developing world.
The United Nations health agency said it will work with regional partners to inform national health authorities about the two-dose injection and its anticipated benefits.
The WHO established its emergency use listing (EUL) process to help poorer countries without their own regulatory resources quickly approve drugs for new diseases like Covid-19, which could otherwise lead to delays.
The WHO review found that the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine met the “must have” criteria for the safety and efficacy benefits to outweigh its risks.
“This is a very positive step to ensure global access to Covid-19 vaccines,” said Mariangela Simao, leader of the WHO access to medicines program.
“But I want to emphasize the need for an even greater global effort to achieve sufficient vaccine supplies to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere.”
The UN health agency, with the GAVI Vaccine Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), are spearheading a global effort called COVAX to secure and distribute vaccines to the poorest countries, to ensure that vaccines do not go only to nations. rich.
The WHO-backed COVAX alliance has deals for nearly 2 billion doses, with first deliveries due in early 2021. The alliance has been in talks with Pfizer and BioNTech to secure the vaccine.
Still, the challenging storage and delivery requirements of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, including keeping it below 70 degrees Celsius, have made deliveries in Western countries difficult and may pose bigger hurdles for developing nations without the proper infrastructure.
The vaccine has received regulatory endorsement from the UK, the European Medicines Agency, the US Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Singapore.
The Pfizer and BioNTech messenger RNA vaccine was found to be 95% effective after two doses 21 days apart.
