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 The change appears aimed at convincing governments which have
negotiated their own bilateral deals securing experimental vaccines
to also sign up for the global COVAX facility by Monday's deadline
for submitting expressions of interest.
"They are trying to be more flexible for self-financing countries to
make it more interesting... There are some advantages to incentivise
you to pay upfront," said a Western diplomat familiar with the
terms.
The United States, Japan, Britain and the European Union have struck
their own deals to secure millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses for
their citizens, ignoring the WHO's warnings that "vaccine
nationalism" will squeeze supplies.
The WHO did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not
determine if the documents were the final offer. The document with
the new terms and conditions was dated Aug. 5.
The offer is the latest sign of concern in the U.N. agency about its
effort to unite the world behind its vaccine as it struggles to get
wealthier countries on board beyond pledges of funding and warm
words about donating surplus vaccines.
It's not clear if the new terms will be enough to win back the
European Union, which has told member states they can help fund the
programme but can't seek to buy vaccines via both schemes.
The latest WHO plan, circulated to its 194 member states in the last
days, promises to "negotiate the best possible pricing from
manufacturers" and to establish a "marketplace" for trading or
selling doses.
The deadline for confirming commitment is Sept. 18, with upfront
payment due by Oct. 9.
'OPTIONAL PURCHASE'
The COVAX facility, launched in late April, is designed to serve as
an "invaluable insurance policy to secure access to safe and
effective COVID-19 vaccines" through a portfolio of experimental
vaccines using a broad range of technologies, the WHO said. For now
it relies on nine experimental vaccines.
It aims to deliver at least 2 billion doses of approved vaccines by
the end of 2021 and to ensure "equitable access".
Through the WHO's standard "Committed Purchase" arrangement already
on offer, self-financing states are to make a lower upfront payment
of an estimated $1.60 per dose, plus a $8.95 financial guarantee per
unit, but have to make firm guarantees to buy doses, it said.
If the final price exceeds double that total of $10.55 per dose, or
$21.10, countries are allowed to drop out, it said.
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Under the new "Optional Purchase" arrangement, their higher upfront payment is
$3.10 per dose. This covers their full pro-rata share of the investments
required by the COVAX facility to enter into agreements with manufacturers and
accelerate scale of production and access, it said, adding that the estimated
all-inclusive cost per dose might still be $10.55.
"These participants have the possibility to opt out of vaccine allocations while
still reserving their 'options' to receive doses of a subsequent vaccine being
provided through the Facility," the WHO said.
"This option may be more attractive for countries that already have bilateral
deals in place and may not be interested in acquiring more of those vaccines."
While a country exercising this option retains an ability to receive its full
share of doses, it should recognise that opting out of a particular vaccine "may
delay the time until a country receives doses, particularly in the initial phase
where there may only be one or two vaccines and the quantities will be limited".
The optional scheme would cost an estimated $262.8 million based on a country
with a 60-million population electing to cover 20% of that and a 2-dose regimen,
the WHO document said. The standard one would cost $253.2 million.
So far some 172 countries have registered expressions of interest, including 92
low- and middle-income countries eligible to secure doses through the GAVI
vaccine alliance which covers much of their cost.
Some 80 potentially self-financing countries have submitted expressions of
interest.
"No self-financing participant will receive doses of vaccine to cover greater
than 20% of its population until all self-financing participants have either
also been offered doses in an amount to achieve 20% coverage or hit their
elected quantity (if lower than 20%)," the WHO said.
(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Josephine Mason and Nick Macfie)
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