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Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), warned about the great inequality in the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine. During his opening speech of the Executive Committee of the organization, he assured that if no changes occur, there may be serious consequences.
“I must be frank: the world is on the brink of catastrophic moral failure, and the price of this failure will be paid with lives and the livelihood of the poorest countries “. The leader considered that it is not fair for healthy and young people from rich nations to have access to the remedy earlier than vulnerable groups from poorer countries.
Equal access to vaccines
Thus, Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed that the “me first” strategy will be counterproductive in the long run: “In the end, these actions they will only prolong the pandemic, The restrictions necessary to contain it and human and economic suffering “.
To try to modify it, requested a full commitment to the COVAX platform that guarantees a equal access to vaccines in developing countries with the help of the most developed territories.
“I challenge all member states to ensure that, for World Health Day on April 7, vaccines against COVID-19 are being administered in all countries, as a symbol of hope to overcome both the pandemic and the inequalities that are at the root of so many global health challenges “he pointed.
Negotiated power
More than 180 countries have joined the COVAX initiative in order to have greater negotiating power with the pharmaceutical companies. The results are beginning to bear fruit: “We have obtained 2,000 million doses from five producers, with an option for 1,000 more, and we hope to start with distribution in February “, the WHO executive revealed.
Despite the inequalities, he emphasized that it is not too late to turn the situation around: “I call on all countries to work together to ensure that in the first 100 days of this year, vaccination of healthcare workers and the elderly is up and running in all countries. “