After 2 Billion COVID-19 Vaccine Shipped, COVAX Closes

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that COVAX will close at the end of 2023.

The WHO stated on December 19, 2023, COVAX, a multilateral mechanism for equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines launched in 2020, will close on December 31, 2023, having delivered nearly 2 billion vaccines to 146 economies.

COVAX's end-to-end efforts helped lower-income economies achieve a COVID-19 two-dose coverage of 57%, compared to the global average of 67%.

In 2024 and 2025, low- and lower-middle-income economies will continue to receive COVID-19 vaccines and delivery support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Most of COVAX's advance purchase supply agreements will have been completed or terminated by the end of 2023, except one, where a modest volume of supply will continue into the first half of 2024. So far, 58 lower-income economies have requested 83 million doses in 2024.

"COVID-19 has been the greatest health challenge of our time, and it was met with innovation and partnership on an equally unprecedented scale," said José Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in a WHO press release.

"COVAX's impact has been historic, as are the insights it has generated on how, concretely, the world can do better next time."

"As we transition COVID-19 into Gavi's routine programming, we do so with deep gratitude for the passion, dedication, and sacrifice of so many around the globe who fought tirelessly for three years to try and create a more equitable world – and with an unwavering commitment to improving by transforming learnings into tangible action."

COVAX was a historic effort co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the WHO. As of the end of 2023, the WHO has Listed twelve different COVID-19 vaccines.