World Health Organization (WHO) On Friday called for more solidarity in the fight. COVID-19 And he asked rich countries to stop shutting down. “Bilateral agreements” with laboratories to reserve vaccines against diseases
At the press conference, the head of the WHO Tedros AdhanomIt is urged that vaccine manufacturers to focus on deploying the same vaccine through the Covax mechanism promoted by the United Nations agency and its partners.
“I urge manufacturers to prioritize deployment and To countries and manufacturers that terminate the closure of the Covax bilateral agreement”He declared.
The risk for poor countries
Adhanom pointed out that these deals, first signed by wealthy nations with pharmaceutical companies and later to middle-income countries, can. He believes this will mean that people at high risk in the poorest countries will not be vaccinated.
He also urged countries to request excessive amounts of the vaccine. To “donate (…) to Covax immediately, which is prepared to distribute evenly from today”
“The nationalism of vaccines is dangerous for the whole world,” he stressed, lamenting that the vaccine has reached only a handful of poor countries.
The call comes in conjunction with the EU decision, coming under considerable pressure from criticism stemming from the slowness of the vaccination campaign to double order the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.
Vaccination by Covax
The covax mechanism was launched by the Alliance for Vaccines (GAVI) and the WHO for the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in disadvantaged countries. “Contracted for 2 billion vaccines” that will be used in Immediately delivery, Adhanom pointed out.
He added that 42 countries started vaccination programs. Of which 36 are high income and 6 are middle income.
“It is clear that most low-income and middle-income countries are still not vaccinated (…) no country should be vaccinated for the entire population while others are not.” He insisted
The objective of the WHO is to provide supply to 20% of the population of Covax participating countries. Before the end of the year, the United Nations agency hopes to be able to deliver the first vaccine from late January.
AFP
