In an earnest attempt to ensure that economically weaker nations are not denied access to Covid-19 vaccines, the World Health Organisation has sought co-operation from nations across the globe to join a pact for a larger humanitarian cause besides raising concerns about the risks from “vaccine nationalism”.

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Here’s what you should know about the WHO vaccine program?

The WHO vaccination programme named 'Covax' has been developed by pooling funds from wealthier countries and nonprofits organisations to develop a vaccination against the novel coronavirus and further distribute it equitably around the world.

As per the plan, the global health organisation aims to deliver 2 billion doses of effective, approved Covid-19 vaccines by the end of 2021, as per the new agency Reuters.

Although the details are still being chalked out since Aug. 31 remains the deadline for nations to join. The programme will be headed by the WHO in partnership with the Gavi vaccine alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

However, Covax is part of a broader programme, called the Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) accelerator which is solely working towards ensuring vaccines, treatments, diagnostic tests and other healthcare resources are broadly available to combat the pandemic.

What are wealthier nations aiming for?

Most economically stronger countries are trying to secure vaccines for their own citizens, laying hands on deals for the first doses even as the efficacy of the vaccinations are yet to be proved. Governments including United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the European Union are spending huge amount of money with vaccine makers including Pfizer Inc , Johnson & Johnson , AstraZeneca Plc and others. The United States alone has committed nearly $11 billion for development, testing, manufacture and stockpiling of hundreds of millions of doses.

Russia and China are also working on vaccines and have already begun vaccinating some of their citizens. The ACT Accelerator is financed by a variety of nonprofits and governments. It is aiming to raise about $31 billion.

Till now the Covax facility has garnered interest from 92 poorer countries hoping for voluntary donations and 80 wealthier countries, a number little changed from a month ago, that would finance the scheme, according to the WHO.

What are the major concerns raised by the WHO ?

The WHO has expressed concern that wealthier countries hoarding vaccines for their own citizens could impede efforts to end the pandemic.

“We need to prevent vaccine nationalism,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a Tuesday virtual briefing. “Sharing finite supplies strategically and globally is actually in each country’s national interest.”

WHO leaders have said that developing a coordinated global distribution system for COVID-19 vaccines that prioritize those at greatest risk of getting sick, such as healthcare workers, would help curb the spread of coronavirus worldwide.