Global COVID-19 Access Program Facing ‘Financial Crisis’

ACT-A, an initiative led by the World Health Organization and involving international health agencies, has significantly improved access to COVID-19 medical countermeasures in lower-income countries. However, further progress could be hindered by a funding shortfall, and ACT-A has urged donors to contribute their fair share.

Coronavirus all around the world, the spread of novel coronavirus, Covid-2019, dangerous virus, pandemic — COVID-19 remains a global issue • Source: Shutterstock

Efforts by health agencies working within the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) have allowed 40 low-income countries to begin vaccination campaigns, and have delivered more than 1.4 billion vaccine doses to 145 countries via the COVAX initiative.

Safe and effective COVID-19 medical countermeasures, including vaccines, medicines and diagnostic tests, are now available across the world. However, they...