There is more unwelcomed news regarding the UN-backed COVAX programme, on which many developing countries, including Jamaica, had pinned their hopes for getting COVID-19 vaccines.
The public health group that manages the programme is revising downward its supply forecast for this year by more than 100 million doses.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, says it now projects that the COVAX programme can supply just fewer than 1.9 billion doses, down from original targets of more than two billion doses.
The shortfall comes because the Serum Institute of India, which is a pivotal producer of vaccines for COVAX, has reverted supplies to needy people in India, as its government scrambles to fight a spike in infections.
So far, COVAX has only distributed about 90 million doses, far short of its original plans.
Gavi said deliveries will continue to be very lean through July and August.
Uncertainties remain in the new supply forecast, including when large-scale exports of vaccines will resume from the Serum Institute; regulatory processes for candidate vaccines such as one from Novavax; and when countries actually donate doses.
The World Health Organization has repeatedly urged wealthy countries to do more to release stockpiles of, or rights to, vaccines to offset unequal access to coronavirus shots.
WHO officials insist the timing of vaccine deliveries is crucial, with doses needed now to prevent the emergence of worrying new strains like the Delta variant, which originally appeared in India, and has been blamed for increased transmission of COVID-19 in many countries.
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