New Delhi: Over 170 countries are engaged in discussions with the World Health Organization (WHO) to participate in COVAX, its global initiative aimed at ensuring equitable access to safe and effective vaccines, once they receive regulatory approval.As part of the self-financing facility of COVAX, countries will have to provide expression of intent by 31 August and to turn these into binding commitments by 18 September.
The first upfront payments will have to be made no later than 9 October, the WHO said.“The facility is the critical mechanism for joint procurement and pooling risk across multiple vaccines so that whatever vaccine is proven to be safe and effective – all countries within the facility will be able to access them.