Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine approved by WHO to advance in developing countries

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The vaccine was first approved in the UK on December 8 for emergency use in the country, following the United States, Canada and the European Union shortly thereafter. They have all started their own vaccination actions.

But the green light from the World Health Organization (WHO) means that countries that do not have their own regulatory bodies, or the means to rigorously assess vaccine efficacy and safety, can speed up their own processes. approval and begin deploying vaccination programs.

There have been concerns about the unequal distribution of vaccines, as richer countries have bought or signed contracts to buy large quantities of available doses or those awaiting approval.

In a statement on Thursday, the WHO said organizations such as UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization could purchase the vaccine to distribute to countries in need.

“This is a very positive step in ensuring global access to Covid-19 vaccines. But I want to emphasize the need for an even greater global effort to achieve sufficient vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations. everywhere, ”said Dr Mariângela Simão, WHO Deputy Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products.

“WHO and our partners work day and night to evaluate other vaccines that have met safety and efficacy standards. We encourage even more developers to submit for review and evaluation. It is vitally important to ensure the critical supply needed to address all countries around the world and curb the pandemic. ”

The WHO team and independent experts reviewed data on the safety, efficacy and quality of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine to conduct a risk-benefit analysis, according to the statement.

“The review found that the vaccine met the essential safety and efficacy criteria set by the WHO and that the benefits of using the vaccine to deal with Covid-19 outweigh the potential risks,” he said.

A group of WHO immunization experts will meet on January 5 to establish policies and recommendations for vaccine use in populations. It will also help them establish cold supply chains, as the vaccine should be stored at 60-90 degrees Celsius.

Although the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine is the first to get WHO approval, there are hopes that cheaper and easier-to-distribute options will soon be available.

One such option is the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine, which was approved on Wednesday by UK regulators. The country will begin administering the shootings from January 4th.

AstraZeneca is committed to supplying hundreds of millions of doses to low- and middle-income countries and to delivering the nonprofit vaccine to these nations in perpetuity.

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