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WHO lauds ‘historic initiative’ on vaccine equity underway in South Africa |



“I just returned from South Africa yesterday, where I met President Ramaphosa and witnessed first-hand the progress being made,” he said. WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told virtual COVID-19 The Small Group Ministerial Conference is chaired by the US Department of State.

“The commitment from the government and the private sector is real.”

Critical situation

The head of WHO warned that high vaccine coverage rates in some countries, combined with the lower severity of the Omicron variant, are creating a misinformation that the pandemic is over.

At the same time, low vaccine coverage and low testing rates in other countries are creating ideal conditions for new variants to emerge, he warned.

We can get the pandemic under control this year – but we run the risk of squandering that opportunity.

Currently, 116 countries are on track to achieve the global goal of vaccinating 70% of the population in each country by the middle of this year.

“Through the ACT Accelerator and COVAX our pillar and partnership with UNICEFWe are currently overcoming some of the supply and distribution constraints that we faced last year, with more than a billion doses of vaccine shipped,” said the WHO chief.

However, he added that in many countries, “the main issues are not absorptive capacity issues.”

“We urgently need to support political leaders to accelerate the deployment of a vaccine,” Tedros said.

Dad asked

While welcoming the continued participation of the meeting countries, the efforts proposed by the United States, and the continued alignment of the ACT Accelerator with the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), he made three requests.

First, he called for universal support for the WHO’s goal of 70% universal immunization.

Second, to save lives now, he urges every country to “do their fair share” to fully fund the ACT Accelerator – specifically, $16 billion for immediate needs.

And finally, the WHO head asked for support for models, such as an mRNA technology transfer center in South Africa and a “network of spokespeople around the world”, to build capacity. control COVID-19 and other preventable diseases.

End the pandemic

The top WHO official spoke back about the collaborative work he has witnessed at the Center and how vaccine developers are joining the historic effort, naming Afrigen, Biovac and the Institute of Virology. Research in Biomedical Sciences at Stellenbosch University.

Increasing local vaccine manufacturing capacity globally, complemented by temporary intellectual property exemptions for COVID-19 tools, will help end this pandemic and keep us all safer“, I said.

By working together, between the public and private sectors, Tedros affirms that the pandemic can be brought under control while promoting an inclusive and sustainable recovery.

In conclusion, the head of WHO supports the recommendations of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to get more arms faster and strengthen supply chains, while providing clear, accessible access to information. creation and equipment for all healthcare workers.





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