COVAX COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries Hit 1 Billion Doses — And Counting

Mission Unstoppable: The most ambitious vaccination campaign in history hits a milestone and forges ahead in 2022, with UNICEF leading on supply and delivery. 

UNICEF delivered a shipment of COVID-19 vaccine doses in Rwanda on January 15, 2022, bringing the total number of doses shipped via COVAX to 1 billion, with billions more on the way.

COVAX, a groundbreaking global partnership to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, is barreling ahead on its mission. Since the rollout began in February 2021, COVAX has delivered lifesaving vaccine doses to 144 primarily low- and middle-income countries, with UNICEF leading on procurement and distribution. By the end of the year, COVAX had ramped up to more than 335 million doses delivered in December alone.  

COVAX delivered more than 335 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in December 2021 alone

“While this is a great achievement on our journey to achieve COVID-19 vaccine equity across the globe and end the pandemic, we also recognize that global supply constraints and COVID-19 surges around the globe prevented COVAX from reaching the goal to deliver 2 billion doses by the end of 2021,” said Michael J. Nyenhuis, President and CEO of UNICEF USA. 

Despite setbacks in 2021, UNICEF and COVAX partners are pushing ahead to deliver 4 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of 2022. “When the world needs something big done, UNICEF can get it done,” said Nyenhuis. “The complexity of securing that many vaccine doses, securing the logistics to get them to 144 countries and the in-country actions to get those shots into arms is a monumental task. UNICEF really is uniquely positioned to do this.”

As the largest single vaccine buyer in the world, UNICEF is leveraging its networks, buying power and expertise to distribute not only vaccine doses but also vaccine supplies, treatments and personal protection equipment. To date, UNICEF has delivered:

• 816.9 million syringes to 102 countries
• 397.4 million surgical masks
• More than 40,900 oxygen concentrators
• 8.7 million diagnostic kits

Preparing health care systems, upgrading cold chain facilities and organizing community outreach campaigns are all part of UNICEF’s COVID-19 response

Even before COVID-19 vaccines had been approved, UNICEF was working with partners to ensure country readiness: preparing health care systems, expanding and strengthening the cold chain and addressing vaccine hesitancy in communities.

UNICEF delivers vaccines for routine childhood immunizations in more than 100 countries every year through a carefully constructed network of cold rooms, freezers and carrier boxes that keep vaccines at a controlled temperature from the point of manufacture to the moment they are administered. To safely transport the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which must be stored at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit, UNICEF worked with partners to quickly deploy and upgrade ultra-cold storage facilities where they were needed the most. 

To combat vaccine hesitancy, UNICEF-supported community outreach teams are leading engagement campaigns using radio broadcasts, road shows, door-to-door teams and innovative multi-media tools to address fears and concerns and boost vaccine confidence.

UNICEF’s work to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines wouldn’t be possible without donor support. Join the global fight to end the pandemic.