06Apr 2023 by Melissa Slogan
COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 23

COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 23

Our Reports
April 5, 2023: COVID GAP Accountability Report Issue 23 Key Changes and Insights Since Previous Report: India reported over 3,600 new COVID-19 cases on April 3rd. This represents the largest single day increase in new cases in over 6 months. The World Health Organization is monitoring the XBB.1.16 subvariant that is currently circulating in India. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) have authorized the use of Bimervax as a COVID-19 booster vaccine. Bimervax is a bivalent, recombinant protein vaccine. South Korea plans to start using wastewater surveillance to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The health systems and response pillar of ACT-A has received $10 million in additional funding, and is now 35.9% funded. Botswana has achieved 70% vaccination…
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30Mar 2023 by Melissa Slogan
COVID-19 Anguish Channeled into Survivor Support, Push for Better Pandemic Policies

COVID-19 Anguish Channeled into Survivor Support, Push for Better Pandemic Policies

Blog
The Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP) blog series. March 30, 2023 By Nellie Bristol When Charonda Johnson’s 62-year-old father died from a COVID-19 infection in July, 2020, in addition to intense grief, she felt rage. A US Air Force Iraq war veteran, she was acutely attuned to early warnings about the unfolding pandemic and urged her family to take precautions. But the church her parents attended downplayed the threat, ignored mask mandates, and continued to hold regular services. Although, unlike the bulk of the congregation, her parents wore masks, they continued to attend services and church sponsored conferences, including those she later found out also were attended by some infected with COVID-19. “They were listening to the things that were being said in the media, listening to things they were hearing…
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23Mar 2023 by Melissa Slogan
COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 22

COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 22

Our Reports
March 22, 2023: COVID GAP Accountability Report Issue 22 Key Changes and Insights Since Previous Report: The Pandemic Fund received over 600 proposals in response to the call for expression of interests (EOI) for the first round of funding. The fund has $300 million available for the first round, but requests from the EOI total over $5.5 billion. The 5th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) will take place April 3- 6. Laos, Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia have received oral antiviral treatments for high-risk patients through COVID Treatment Quick Start Consortium. The Duke Global Health Innovation Center is a proud partner of the COVID Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP).  COVID GAP’s Accountability Reports highlight and analyze recent developments, track progress toward national, regional, and global targets, and identify high-priority recommendations for…
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09Mar 2023 by Melissa Slogan
UN High Level Pandemic Meeting Should Be Only the Beginning

UN High Level Pandemic Meeting Should Be Only the Beginning

Blog
The Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP) blog series. March 9, 2023 By Nellie Bristol While negotiations continue at the World Health Organization (WHO) on a new pandemic accord and amendments to the International Health Regulations, plans also are evolving toward a UN high level meeting September 20 aimed at compelling health emergency preparedness to the top levels of government. While the meeting is critical to refocusing the world’s attention, establishing a mechanism to sustain long term political support is essential to successfully countering future threats. The High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPR) was called for in a UN resolution last year. Representatives for Israel and Morocco, who are co- facilitating the meeting’s preparatory process, set out a broad agenda in recently released  document as well as scheduling a hearing in May to get input from non-governmental…
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01Mar 2023 by Melissa Slogan
COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 21

COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 21

Our Reports
March 1, 2023: COVID GAP Accountability Report Issue 21 Key Changes and Insights Since Previous Report: The Pandemic Fund closed their call for expressions of interest on February 24th. The first call for proposals is expected to be announced in early March and applicants will have 11 weeks to submit proposals. The Governing Board plans to make funding decisions in July 2023. The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board has released a document outlining 3 tests to ensure the success of key pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response reforms. The fourth meeting of the WHO Intergovernmental Negotiating Body will run from February 27th to March 3rd. Discussion will focus on the zero draft of the Pandemic Treaty. Dr. Jean Kaseya has been selected as the first Director General of the Africa Centers for…
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23Feb 2023 by Melissa Slogan
African Leaders Commit to Tackling Pandemic Fueled Routine Immunization Deficits

African Leaders Commit to Tackling Pandemic Fueled Routine Immunization Deficits

Blog
The Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP) blog series. February 23, 2023 By Nellie Bristol In the face of falling routine immunization rates and recent spikes in some vaccine preventable diseases, African leaders pledged this week to “reignite the political will” to prioritize universal access to immunization through a declaration endorsed by African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government February 19. The declaration, entitled “Building Momentum for Routine Immunization Recovery in Africa,” commits governments to increasing and sustaining domestic investments in vaccines as well as addressing bottlenecks in vaccine delivery and improving disease surveillance. It invites African development banks, regional economic communities, and regional health organizations to increase resource mobilization and manufacturers to facilitate affordable access to vaccines and support technology transfer to African companies. It calls for an AU/World Health…
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16Feb 2023 by Melissa Slogan
COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 20

COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 20

Our Reports
February 16, 2023: COVID GAP Accountability Report Issue 20 Key Changes and Insights Since Previous Report: The Pandemic Fund Governing Board has approved $300 million in financing for the first round of funding. The first round will prioritize projects that focus on strengthening disease surveillance and early warning laboratory systems, and health workforce capacity. The WHO has released the zero draft of pandemic treaty (WHO CA+) which will be discussed in Geneva from Feb. 27 to March 3. The draft does not include any mechanism for independent accountability and oversight mechanisms are set to be discussed at the first meeting of the governing body. Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate has been selected as GAVI’s next CEO. The Global Fund has awarded an additional $320 million in funding towards pandemic preparedness and…
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10Feb 2023 by Melissa Slogan
Fatal Lack of Oxygen During Pandemic Peaks Spurs Action to End Enduring Shortages

Fatal Lack of Oxygen During Pandemic Peaks Spurs Action to End Enduring Shortages

Blog, News
The Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP) blog series. February 10, 2023 By Nellie Bristol Access to medical oxygen literally has been a matter of life and death during COVID-19 peaks and shortages have had devastating effects in many countries around the world. While specific data are difficult to come by, one study showed that vast under-resourcing in intensive care units in ten African countries contributed to high mortality rates, with one in two patients dying without receiving oxygen. In Peru, which reported the highest per capita COVID-19 death rates in the world, at least 11 Lima hospitals reported shortages, people stood in long lines for bottled oxygen, and price gouging was rampant. In addition to its importance during the pandemic, medical oxygen is critical to treatment of struggling newborns, those with pneumonia, and a variety of…
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02Feb 2023 by Melissa Slogan
COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 19

COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 19

Our Reports
February 2, 2023: COVID GAP Accountability Report Issue 19 Key Changes and Insights Since Previous Report: Chad is reporting a 0.30% daily vaccination rate (28-day average) which is an increase from 0.00% in the previous report. Chad is reporting 100% vaccination coverage of the 60+ population, which is an increase from 78.37% two weeks ago. Tanzania is reporting that 68.77% of the healthcare worker population has been vaccinated which is an increase from 40.73%. Tanzania is also reporting 100% vaccination coverage of the 60+ population, an increase from 9.90% in the previous report. Uganda is reporting that 100% of the 60+ population has been vaccinated, an increase from 36.19% in the previous report. The number of booster doses administered per 100 people has increased slowly across all income levels as follows:…
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25Jan 2023 by Melissa Slogan
Communicators Require New Approaches to Build Trust in Science and Public Health

Communicators Require New Approaches to Build Trust in Science and Public Health

Blog, News
The Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP) blog series. January 25, 2023 By Nellie Bristol Public health communicators need to change their approaches to ensure that those hesitant about vaccines “will adopt the desirable behavior and feel good about it,” said Michelle Williams, dean of faculty and professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She appeared with other panelists January 18 at a World Economic Forum (WEF) roundtable on the State of the Pandemic. “The worst thing we did in the U.S. was when people expressed hesitancy or curiosity, we basically said to them, ‘follow the science.’ And that’s the absolute wrong thing to do,” Williams said. Instead, communicators need to “take the approach of meeting them where they are,” help them understand the risks and the benefits, and…
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