Vaccines serve two distinct but related functions. A concept called herd immunity reduces transmission, protects the vaccinated from getting infected, and protects those without vaccines by decreasing the number of people who can spread it. It reduces transmission drastically. The vaccine distribution must be equitable to ensure herd immunity success.
Dr. Sanjeev Arora, the founder of Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), was asked what they did after learning about Covid-19
He stated that they learned from their Vietnam partners last February about how they used the ECHO Model for the coronavirus, with their hub at Vietnam Children’s Hospital. At 273 clinical sites, they rushed to organize a training program for more than 12,000 healthcare workers about the infection control response and practice for Covid-19.
Their comprehensive containment strategy includes ECHO, where it practices contact tracing, scaled-up testing, and other medical interventions. Because of the well-planned strategy, Vietnam continues to be one of the countries with the lowest infection rates.
In March, ECHO trained over 300,000 health practitioners in India for the necessary preparations for Covid-19.
Countries from all over the world are making sure no time is wasted. There is significant progress in the candidate development for Covid-19, much faster than any other historical pathogens. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), there are more than 50 candidates for the vaccines for two of their underway clinical trials.
Philanthropists, pharmaceutical companies, and multilateral institutions with the government for funding are all donating millions of money to accelerate the vaccine’s development effort, also hastening its discovery.
WHO also has essential alliances such as the CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations), which was already in place once the Ebola crisis transpired. The organization is dedicated to coordinating and financing vaccine development and guaranteeing fair global access.
There have been expressions of interest submitted by 75 countries to protect their people along with other nations by joining the Facility of COVAX – a mechanism made to ensure equitable, fair, and rapid access to coronavirus vaccines worldwide.
The seventy-five countries that would fund the vaccines from their finance budgets needed publicly have teamed up with 90 nations with lower income through the support of voluntary donations to the COVAX AMC (Advance Market Commitment). With 165 countries grouped, the world now has 60% of its population fighting for a vaccine.
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