US $ 9bn ADB facility to help members access and distribute COVID-19 vaccines

• ADB to closely coordinate with World Bank Group, WHO, COVAX, GAVI 
• US $ 500mn Vaccine Import Facility to be made available for members 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a US $ 9 billion vaccine initiative—the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX)—offering rapid and equitable support to its developing members, as they procure and deliver effective and safe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.

“As ADB’s developing members prepare to vaccinate their people as soon as possible, they need financing to procure vaccines as well as appropriate plans and knowledge to be able to safely, equitably and efficiently manage the vaccination process,” said ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa.

“The APVAX will play a critical role in helping our developing members meet these challenges, overcome the pandemic and focus on economic recovery.”

More than 14.3 million positive cases have been identified in Asia and the Pacific, causing more than 200,000 deaths. As the pandemic persists, economic growth in developing Asia is projected to contract by 0.4 percent in 2020—the first regional gross domestic product contraction since the early 1960s.

Promoting safe, equitable and effective access to vaccines is a top priority for ADB’s COVID-19 response efforts. Vaccination programmes can break the chain of virus transmission, save lives and mitigate the negative economic impacts of the pandemic by restoring confidence in people’s ability to work, travel and socialise safely.

The APVAX provides a comprehensive framework and resource envelope for supporting developing Asia’s vaccine access, using two complementary components. 

The Rapid Response Component will provide timely support for critical vaccine diagnostics, procurement of vaccines and transporting vaccines from the place of purchase to ADB’s developing members.

The Project Investment Component will support investments in systems for successful distribution, delivery and administration of vaccines along with associated investments in building capacity, community outreach and surveillance. This may include such areas as cold-chain storage and transportation, vehicles, distribution infrastructure, processing facilities and other physical investments. The component may also be used to develop or expand vaccine manufacturing capacity in developing members. ADB financing for vaccines will be provided in close coordination with other development partners, including the World Bank Group, World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX), GAVI and bilateral and multilateral partners.

The APVAX promotes safe and effective vaccines to be accessed in a fair manner. For a vaccine to be eligible for financing, it must meet one of three criteria. It must be procured via COVAX, prequalified by the WHO or authorised by a Stringent Regulatory Authority. 

Additional access criteria, such as a vaccination needs assessment, a vaccine allocation plan by the developing member and a mechanism for effective coordination among development partners also help ensure that vaccine support under the APVAX can be fairly and effectively implemented.

ADB is also making available a US $ 500 million Vaccine Import Facility to support the efforts of its developing members to secure safe and effective vaccines, as well as the goods that support distribution and inoculation. The facility is part of ADB’s Trade and Supply Chain Finance Programme.  AAA-guarantees available through the programme’s vaccine import facility will mitigate payment risks and facilitate import of these goods. This will employ the same eligibility criteria on vaccines as COVAX. Cofinancing with private sector partners could result in the Import Facility, supporting US $ 1 billion in vaccine and related imports within a year. In April, ADB approved a US $ 20 billion package to support its developing members in addressing the impacts of the pandemic and streamlined some procedures to deliver quicker and more flexible assistance.  ADB has committed US $ 14.9 billion in loans, grants and technical assistance, including US $ 9.9 billion in quick-disbursing budget support from the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Option (CPRO) and support for the private sector. In November, ADB announced US $ 20.3 million in additional technical assistance to establish systems to enable efficient and equitable distribution of vaccines across Asia and the Pacific.