Malacañang announced on Friday, July 24, that the government coronavirus task force has approved the participation of the Philippines in the Gavi COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility.

“The members of the IATF…approved the participation of the Philippines in the Gavi COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility, including the corresponding allocation of funds,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

The COVAX Facility is a system that ensures “fair and equitable” allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 75 countries have submitted expressions of interest to join the COVAX Facility.

“The 75 countries, which would finance the vaccines from their own public finance budgets, partner with up to 90 lower-income countries that could be supported through voluntary donations to Gavi’s COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC),” the WHO said in an earlier statement.

More than 100 candidates for the COVID-19 vaccine are currently in development worldwide. (READ: 2 coronavirus vaccines ‘produce immune response’)

The Department of Science and Technology, along with a panel of experts, has been quietly crafting the first stages of a vaccine strategy that will allow the Philippines to participate in clinical trials for the most advanced vaccine candidates. (READ: Searching for a coronavirus vaccine: What PH clinical trials will look like)

As of Thursday, COVID-19 has infected over 15.4 million of the global population. In the Philippines, the virus has infected 74,390 people, including 1,871 deaths and 24,282 recoveries. – Rappler.com