COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access), the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, is co-led by CEPI, Gavi and WHO. It partners with developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers, UNICEF, PAHO, the World Bank, and others. COVAX is the only global initiative that works with governments and manufacturers to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide to both high-income and lower-income countries.

The world’s experience with H1N1 in 2009, when a small number of wealthy countries bought up almost the entire global vaccine supply, made it clear that the mistake of excluding most other countries needed to be avoided. COVAX was formed in 2020 to prevent lower-income economies from ending up at the back of the queue. The aim was to secure life-saving vaccines and to ensure vaccines reach all people, recognising that the pandemic would not end until the virus is contained globally.

This resource contains answers to a number of questions that journalists may need to ask when reporting about COVID-19 vaccine access and distribution.