The World Bank joined the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Force (AVATT), accelerating the process of vaccinating 60% of Africa's populationA "fundamental" value to save lives and revive the economy.

"The World Bank's decision to join AVATT, following the United States' announcement on sharing vaccine doses, means that countries can rest assured that they can access and finance the vaccines they need," said the African Union Special Envoy and AVATT coordinator, Strive Masiyiwa, quoted in the note sent to Lusa by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

According to AVATT, African Union member states receive vaccines according to the size of their populations to purchase through a shared mechanism, which complements the supply provided by COVAC, which was created to ensure the vaccination of 30% of the population of all participating countries, namely those in Africa.

In late March, the African Union had announced that it would buy up to 400 million covid-19 vaccines from pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, reaching half of the goal of vaccinating 750 million people, according to the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).

"All African Union member countries will have access to 200 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's covid-19 vaccine, with the potential to be able to order an additional 180 million doses through an agreement signed March 28 through the African Vaccine Procurement Fund," reads a note released at the time.

The transaction was made possible through the $2 billion fund approved by Afreximbank, which acted as financial intermediary in the entire transaction, the bank says, thanking "the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund [UNICEF]."