China Joins World Health Organization’s COVAX Project

China has officially agreed to support the World Health Organization’s (WHO) COVAX initiative, according to a foreign ministry spokesperson who did not provide the financial details.

The COVAX initiative, which the U.S. has declined to join, is a program being led by the WHO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to help 92 low- and middle-income nations obtain, distribute and administer COVID-19 vaccines.

China had previously chosen not to participate in the program, along with Russia and the U.S., but had a change of heart, the spokesperson said. China has several vaccines in late-stage trials, including candidates from CanSino Biologics, Sinovac and the state-owned Sinopharm.

Sinopharm disclosed in September that under emergency clearance it has already vaccinated hundreds of thousands of patients with one of its vaccine candidates, even as phase 3 trials are ongoing (DID, Sept. 15).

Last week, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance announced that the UK, Canada, Germany, Italy and Sweden have pledged approximately $960 million to support the COVAX initiative. Japan has also come on board with a $130 million contribution. The alliance said that it has raised about $1.8 billion so far and needs at least $5 billion more in 2021 to help finance the initiative. — James Miessler