Covid Vaccines: How Fast Is Progress Around The World?

Almost 450 million doses of the coronavirus vaccines have been administered, in more than 135 countries worldwide.

However, there are vast differences in the pace of progress in different parts of the world.

Some countries have secured and delivered doses to a large proportion of their population – but many more are still waiting for their first shipments to arrive.

Who is receiving vaccines?

With an aim to give doses to nearly every adult around the world, this is the largest-scale vaccination programme in history.

The US and China have administered the highest number of doses, 124 million and 75 million respectively.

India ranks third, with about 45 million.

But while nearly all of Europe and the Americas have begun vaccination campaigns, only a handful of African countries have.

Many poorer countries are relying on deliveries from Covax, a scheme led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, together with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which is trying to ensure everyone in the world has access to a Covid vaccine.

Ghana became the first country to receive vaccines through this programmeon 24 February.

Covax plans to deliver about two billion vaccine doses globally by the end of the year, but many vaccines require two doses per person.

Which vaccines are in use?

The vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech was the first approved by the WHO, followed by several others.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is now the most widely used around the globe. Unlike Pfizer’s jab – which has to be kept at an extremely cold temperature (-70C) – the Oxford vaccine can be stored in a normal fridge, which makes it easier to distribute.

Most governments are starting with doses for the over-60s, health workers and people who are clinically vulnerable.

In countries such as Israel and the UK, there are already promising signs the vaccines are reducing hospital admissions and deaths, as well as community transmission.

Worldwide, more than 200 vaccine candidates are undergoing trials to test their efficacy and safety.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-56237778