The ACT-Accelerator - a global solution for a global problem
The ACT-Accelerator was set up to contain the COVID-19 pandemic faster and more efficiently by ensuring that successful diagnostics, vaccines and treatments are shared equitably across all countries.
Key to achieving that goal is the design and implementation of a Fair Allocation Framework.
Equitable distribution is particularly important in the area of vaccines, which, if used correctly and equitably, could help to stop the acute phase of the pandemic and allow the rebuilding of our societies and economies.
Although the ACT-Accelerator will speed up development and production, initial supplies will be limited. If there is no international plan to manage vaccine distribution fairly, there will be hoarding in some places and life-threatening shortages in others. There will also be price spikes.
So WHO advises that once a vaccine(s) is shown to be safe and effective, and authorized for use, all countries receive doses in proportion to their population size, albeit initially in reduced quantities. This will enable every country to start by immunizing the highest priority populations.
In the second phase, vaccines would continue to be deployed to all countries so that additional populations can be covered according to national priorities.
In a snapshot, fair allocation of vaccines will occur in the following way:
- An initial proportional allocation of doses to countries until all countries reach enough quantities to cover 20% of their population
- A follow-up phase to expand coverage to other populations. If severe supply constraints persist, a weighted allocation approach would be adopted, taking account of a country’s COVID threat and vulnerability.
The document is a final working document and may be adjusted in the future as new information about the vaccines and the epidemiology of COVID-19 becomes available.
Fair allocation mechanism for COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX Facility (PDF, 929.7 KB )
