[1/3] A nurse prepares to administer the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine under the COVAX scheme against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Eka Kotebe General Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March 13, 2021.
REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File PhotoLONDON, June 26 (Reuters) - Several billions of dollars left in a scheme to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to the world’s poorest could be diverted to prepare for other pandemics or to support vaccine manufacturing in Africa, the scheme's partners said.
The initiative is set to wind up at the end of this year, although some of its work will continue.
With demand for COVID-19 vaccines dwindling, the partners are now working out how best to use the remaining cash – a significant sum in global health – alongside the donors who originally pledged it.
Another idea that has gained traction is to use some of the money to boost vaccine manufacturing in Africa, Saraka-Yao said.
Persons:
drugmakers, ”, Marie, Ange Saraka, Gavi’s, Yao, Melinda Gates, ” Saraka, Gavi, Muhammad Ali Pate, David Marlow, Seth Berkley, Jennifer Rigby, Christina Fincher
Organizations:
AstraZeneca, Oxford, REUTERS, Tiksa, Gavi, Vaccine Alliance, World Health Organization, WHO, Coalition for, Reuters, Melinda Gates Foundation, Thomson
Locations:
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Africa, COVAX, United States, Germany, Nigeria