AstraZeneca joins efforts to boost global Covid-19 vaccine access

AstraZeneca is the latest pharma company to announce it is launching Covid-19 vaccination mobile clinics in regions where supply has been limited to date.

Working in partnership with Amref Health Africa and the Ministry of Health in Kenya, AstraZeneca is launching ten mobile vaccination clinics to improve uptake of the vaccine in country, where only 34 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated. By comparison, an estimated 68 percent of adults around the world have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, while Africa’s average vaccination rate is 18 percent.

Each mobile clinic aims to vaccinate 70-100 people per day, reaching up to 1,000 people per day once all 10 mobile clinics are fully operational. 

Kenya’s vaccination campaign struggled initially, due to unavailability of vaccines as well as geographic inequalities. The new mobile clinics will be fitted with solar-powered fridges and backup energy sources to ensure power outages do not disrupt supply. Additionally, the clinics will provide vaccine education, Covid-19 screening and support from Amref Flying Doctors, who will replenish the clinics with medical supplies as needed.

Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO Amref Health Africa, said: “It is evident that health emergencies are here to stay, and thinking out of the box through innovations in health may be our only chance at timely response if and when emergencies occur.

He added, “The movable clinics are a great addition to the toolkit that will ensure equity in access to last-mile communities with much-needed vaccination and essential health services.”

In the same week, Ireland-based biotech firm Normax has announced it is launching an initiative to drive down the costs of mRNA vaccines.

The company has secured US$ 360m for an initial public offering (IPO) listing on the London Stock Exchange and the SIX Swiss Exchange to scale up mRNA vaccine R&D for Covid-19, as well as tuberculosis, HIV and malaria. It is set to roll-out five modular manufacturing facilities, the first of which will be located in Cork, Ireland.

Currently 66 percent of the world’s population has received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, however only 17.8 percent of people in low-income countries has received at least one dose.

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