More than two years after the World Health Organisation (WHO) set up the Independent Allocation of Vaccines Group (IAVG) to validate and assess vaccine allocations from the Covax facility, the group’s active participation has been stopped amid receding Covid-19 cases and ample supply of vaccines.

It has been decided to put off operations of IAVG until a situation arises where steering by the group is needed. The triggers that would re-activate the IAVG include significant supply-demand imbalance, causing equity to become a concern.

Covax, the global initiative was launched in 2020 to ensure a fairer and more equitable distribution of Covid vaccines. Covax was co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the WHO – working in partnership with developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the World Bank, among others.

The IAVG was formed by the WHO, with members belonging to different countries who used to meet virtually regularly.

At their last meeting in December, the IAVG concluded that the Covax demand planning exercise for 2023 is almost complete and countries are in a comfortable position as far as vaccine allocation is concerned.

“The total supply is expected to meet total demand in 2023,” said an email from Kate O’Brien, director – immunisation, vaccines & biologicals department, WHO, to the IAVG members.

The 2023 portfolio comprises Janssen, Pfizer, Moderna and, potentially, the Clover vaccine, and Covovax, upon request, she said.According to the IAVG, as of December 6, the 47 AMC countries had requested 340 million doses from Covax for 2023–230 million doses for primary vaccination and 110 million for boosters.