184 Countries, Economies Join COVAX: WHO Chief

A total of 184 countries and economies have now joined COVAX, an international initiative co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners to ensure efficient and equal global access to COVID-19 vaccines, Xinhua reports.

"COVAX represents the largest portfolio of potential COVID-19 vaccines and the most effective way to share safe and effective vaccines equitably across the world," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a virtual press conference on Monday.

"Equitably sharing vaccines is the fastest way to safeguard high-risk communities, stabilize health systems and drive a truly global economic recovery," he added.

As one of the leading countries in vaccine production, China has officially joined COVAX, a move identified by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an significant step in upholding the principle of a shared health culture for all and honoring its commitment to turning COVID-19 vaccines into a global public good.

At the virtual press conference on Monday, Tedros also listed the "concern process" of the entry of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the coming winter in the northern hemisphere and a sharp acceleration in the number of new COVID-19 cases, Tedros warned that the next few months would be tough, especially in Europe and North America.

"So it's important that all governments focus on the fundamentals that help to break the chains of transmission and save both lives and livelihoods," Tedros said.

As the world struggles to control the COVID-19 pandemic, countries across the globe are racing to find a vaccine. According to the WHO website, 198 COVID-19 candidate vaccines were produced worldwide as of October 19, and 44 of them were in clinical trials.