February 04, 2021 UN Children’s Fund UNICEF — which plays a key role in immunization campaigns worldwide — welcomed the development, describing COVAX as the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation ever mounted. — Courtesy photo NEW YORK — Key workers and other vulnerable people in 145 countries should receive COVID-19 vaccines in the first half of this year, under the joint UN-led COVAX initiative for fair access to coronavirus-beating jabs, it’s been confirmed. The aim of Wednesday’s announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, is to help Governments to prepare their vaccine distribution programs, by providing details about which vaccine they can expect to receive, between now and the end of June.