The World Health Organization reported that a shipment of 1.1 million COVID-19 vaccines to Rwanda on Jan. 15 included the billionth dose supplied via COVAX. However, the milestone is merely “a reminder of the work that remains,” says the WHO, which notes that (as of Jan. 13), 36 of its 194 member states have vaccinated less than 10 percent of their population, and 88 less than 40 percent.

Despite the vaccine procurement and supply operation led by COVAX being the largest in history, with deliveries to 144 countries to date, the campaign has been compromised by hoarding/stockpiling in rich countries, and catastrophic outbreaks leading to borders and supply being locked, says the WHO.

And a lack of sharing of licenses, technology and know how by pharmaceutical companies meant manufacturing capacity went unused, it adds.

“With updated vaccines in the pipeline, now is the moment for all citizens to demand that governments and pharmaceutical companies share health tools globally and bring an end to the death and destruction cycles of this pandemic, limit new variants and drive a global economic recovery,” says the WHO, which has previously issued a call to action to have at least 70% of all countries’ populations vaccinated by the start of July 2022 and, at the same time, integrate COVID-19 vaccination into routine health services.