Supply Chain

Currently, multiple existing in-country supply chains, temperature-controlled and not, including COVID-19 samples, are strained and not fit for purpose. In-country supply chains need to be strengthened to facilitate the delivery of COVID-19 tools from ports of entry or central medical stores to service delivery points while ensuring equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. Supply chain support for PPEs - critical to protecting frontline health workers, and oxygen - a lifesaving commodity that is critical to preventing COVID-related mortalities, needs prioritization.

The ACT-A supply chain workstream will build on ongoing work and focus on activities and deliverables in the following three areas:

• Framework to track country needs, country support, implementation progress, and resulting supply chain performance.

• Investment case to meet the demands of the COVID-19 supply surge and categorization by urgency.

• Funding and support mechanisms for supply chain improvements.

This will be done in conjunction with the previously established UN Supply Chain Task Force and in collaboration with relevant Pillars and Connector workstreams to avoid duplication and blind spots.

LIST OF RESOURCES:

•  COVAX AMC: Ensuring access to COVID-19 vaccines for low- and middle-income economies

•  Guidance on developing a national deployment and vaccination plan for COVID-19 vaccines

•  Model packaging for COVID-19 vaccines – WHO working position

•  The country readiness and delivery workstream (WHO)

•  Regulation and Prequalification