Moderna to supply up to half-billion Covid-19 vaccine doses to low and middle income countries
From CNN Health's John Bonifield
Vials of the Moderna Covid-19 disease vaccine are seen in Monts, France, on April 22. Guillaume Souvant/AFP/Getty Images
Biotech company Moderna on Monday announced an agreement with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to supply up to 500 million Covid-19 vaccines doses in low and middle income countries.
The doses are being offered at Moderna's lowest tiered price, the company said. An initial 34 million doses are to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2021, with an option for 466 million doses in 2022.
The agreement covers 92 countries partnered with COVAX, a global initiative to buy coronavirus vaccines in bulk and send them to poorer nations that can't compete with wealthy countries in securing contracts with the major drug companies. COVAX is an entity run by Gavi, the World Health Organization and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and is funded by donations from governments, multilateral institutions and foundations.