UNICEF signs supply deal for Clover COVID-19 vaccine

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said Tuesday that it has signed a long-term agreement with Clover Biopharmaceuticals for the supply of the Clover COVID-19 vaccine on behalf of COVAX, the global vaccine equity mechanism, reported Xinhua.

Through the supply agreement, UNICEF will have access to up to 414 million doses of Clover's COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2022, said UNICEF.

This agreement further expands UNICEF's COVID-19 vaccine supplier base. UNICEF has already signed supply agreements with various vaccine manufacturers. The addition of Clover's vaccine to the portfolio provides further diversification by providing access to the first protein subunit vaccine, it said.

Procurement by UNICEF under this agreement is conditional on the product achieving an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO) to confirm the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Deliveries could start as early as the first quarter of 2022 provided countries are ready to receive them and the WHO grants an EUL, said UNICEF.