Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: COVID-19 Vaccine Manufacturers Should Prioritize Supply Through COVAX
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently urged all COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing countries to start prioritizing the release of COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX, an international equitable vaccine alliance.
The WHO chief declared in a press conference recently that COVAX is ready to support the task of carrying out vaccine distribution everywhere efficiently in an organized manner.
He also urged nations that have increased access to COVID-19 vaccines to immediately donate the excess amount of it to the COVAX facility; WHO via COVAX can equitably supply them to all parts of the world.
He further condemned vaccine rich nations to stop hoarding the vaccines with the intent of making bilateral deals with vaccine needy nations in exchange for rolling out the vaccines to them soon.
In a press conference held on January 8th, 2021, Tedros said, “Vaccine nationalism hurts us all and is self-defeating.” He added that the only way to economic recovery would be to create more jobs; that would be possible if the vaccine were to be distributed fairly among world populations that would in turn protect them.
He further continued that countries, particularly those who have demanded an amount of vaccine that they wouldn’t need, must realize that they are “controlling the global supply” and should distribute them to COVAX immediately, an organization that is responsible for ensuring equal access to the COVID-19 across nations and countries.
He further added that no country has a monopoly over the supply and distribution of vaccine;
COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access) facility is an international initiative by WHO (World Health Organization) to facilitate rapid, fair, and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines throughout all countries.
A total of 75 countries have come forward to finance the vaccine research, development & manufacture, and distribution from their own public finance funds.
These 75 nations have agreed to partner with 92 lesser developed nations to supply COVID-19 vaccines to their people. This joint initiative between the advanced and lesser developed countries of the world is being presided over and managed by Gavi’s COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC).
The COVAX facility came into effect in April last year with the aim to deliver two billion doses of effective and approved COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2021, immunizing masses against the COVID-19 virus to contain it’s further spread.
