As developed countries struggle to allocate supply, COVAX, the global project to share COVID-19 vaccinations, and the African Union have refused to buy extra doses of Moderna’s vaccines.
According to a Moderna spokeswoman, the global alliance did not execute the option for 166 million doses of the shot in the third quarter of 2022, as well as the option for 166 million doses in the fourth quarter, which expired on April 1.
According to reports in February, COVAX, which is funded by Gavi, the World Health Organisation, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, is trying to place more than 300 million pills.
Through 2021 and 2022, Moderna and Gavi have agreed to make up to 650 million doses of the company’s vaccine available to COVAX participants.
The negotiations with Moderna, according to a Gavi representative, are part of the “normal decision-making process on exercising options stated in our advance purchase agreements with manufacturers.”
After struggling to obtain injections last year, COVAX has ramped up the pace this year, sending over 1.40 billion doses to 144 nations as of April 1.
As supplies and donations increased, some poorer countries faced challenges such as cold-chain shortages, vaccine scepticism, and a lack of cash to support distribution networks.