Sabin, Dalberg, JSI establish COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Project, funded by Skoll Foundation

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 -- The Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) has partnered with Dalberg and JSI Research & Training Institute Inc (JSI) to create the COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Project. 

Based on a statement, the Skoll Foundation is supporting the project through start-up funding of US$1 million to pilot the programme in four countries. (US$1 = RM4.157)

Following a successful pilot, the partners hope to secure additional funding to scale the project to more than 40 countries starting next year.

This collaboration will support low and middle-income country immunisation professionals in leading the equitable delivery of COVID-19 vaccines through their national immunisation programmes.

It also complements the approach outlined in the COVAX Facility, the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, led by the World Health Organization; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

In addition, this project also ensures that national immunisation programmes have the resources and health systems to achieve sustainable global protection from COVID-19 by 2022 and strengthen capacity for vaccination across the lifespan.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Project will comprise three phases, designed to rapidly assess vaccine distribution landscape, maximise learnings and scale a successful pilot to enable equitable global delivery of vaccines. 

The Skoll Foundation is funding Phases 1 and 2.

Phases of the project will accelerate equitable distribution now, before a vaccine arrives, to ensure that it reaches the most vulnerable when one becomes available. More details at vaccineequity.org 

-- BERNAMA