WHO wants fast-tracking of Covid-19 vaccine, equitable distribution in Southeast Asia

The World Health Organization wants fast-tracking of Covid-19 vaccine and its equitable distribution in South and Southeast Asian region including Bangladesh as a second wave of coronavirus infection looms large.

"The vaccine manufacturing and regulatory sectors have a critical role to play in equitable and efficient deployment of vaccines," Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO's South-East Asia Region said at the two-day virtual meeting that ended Friday, according to a WHO statement.

The 11 countries of the region include Bangladesh, Bhutan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste.

This was the second such meeting with vaccine manufacturers and regulators organised in WHO South East Asia Region with the first held in April. This comes as the UK has rolled out vaccination and the US is likely to begin within days, while other countries are following suit.

There are some serious concerns over equitable distribution, with many fearing the poor countries will lag behind in terms of accessing to vaccines.

The meeting deliberated processes and timeliness to fast-track registration of Covid-19 vaccines in countries using the Emergency Use Listing procedures while comprehending the landscape of Covid-19 vaccine production in the this region.

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh said all countries in the region are now developing and finalising national deployment and vaccination plans for Covid-19, of which regulatory preparedness is a core component.

Establishing expedited regulatory pathways for vaccine approval and adjusting regulatory pathways to the type of vaccine that is developed and filed for approval remains critical as emergency use authorisation will precede full licensure, she said.

Dr Khetrapal Singh said while vaccine licensure systems may need to be modified, having standard operating procedures and stipulated timelines for emergency use authorisation would be vital.

"Countries in our Region are among the world's largest vaccine manufacturers, and the vaccines produced here are likely to be administered to billions of people globally. I am certain that together, in solidarity with all people of the Region and world, you will effectively contribute to health and well-being of all," Dr Khetrapal Singh said.

Key global and regional partners such as GAVI and UNICEF participated in the meeting. Among the vaccine manufacturers, from India Bharat Biotech International Ltd, Biological E Ltd, Cadila Healthcare Ltd, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, Dr Reddy's Laboratories and Wockhardt Limited; from Indonesia Bio Farma Limited, and from Thailand Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), Bionet Asia Co. Ltd and Siam Bioscience, participated in the meeting.

The experts at the meeting recommended that all countries ensure availability of high-quality, complete and timely Covid-19 surveillance data on all risk groups, including migrants and remote or displaced populations, for decision-making related to vaccination.