January 26, 2021
1 min read

‘Bilateral vaccine deals risk WHO-led Covax’

Of some 50 countries where Covid-19 vaccines are being administered, nearly all are wealthy nations and 75 per cent of doses have been deployed in only ten countries, Tedros noted…reports Asian Lite News

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that bilateral deals on Covid-19 vaccines between countries and companies are putting at risk the promise of Covax, the WHO-led global initiative aimed to ensure rapid and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines.

“At least 56 bilateral vaccine deals have been signed, which fragments the market, forces countries to compete, and drives up prices of Covid-19 vaccines,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in his speech at a meeting.

“Vaccine nationalism is self-defeating and inefficient, leaving the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people at risk,” he warned. “The emergence of rapidly spreading variants makes the urgent and equitable rollout of vaccines all the more important.”

Of some 50 countries where Covid-19 vaccines are being administered, nearly all are wealthy nations and 75 per cent of doses have been deployed in only ten countries, Tedros noted.

“It is understandable that governments want to prioritize vaccinating their own health workers and older people first. But it is not right that younger, healthier adults in rich countries are vaccinated before health workers and older people in poorer countries,” Tedros said.

“The situation is compounded by the fact that most manufacturers have prioritized regulatory approval in rich countries where the profits are highest, rather than submitting full dossiers to WHO,” he said. “To put it bluntly: many countries have bought more vaccine than they need.”

The WHO chief called on all manufacturers of vaccines that meet international standards of safety, efficacy and quality to prioritise their submission to WHO for Emergency Use Listing, the Xinhua news agency reported.

He stressed that Covax needs to “receive extra doses soon, and not the leftovers many months from now.”

“2021 could be a year with renewed hope that we can overcome the acute phase of the pandemic,” he said. “We cannot succeed as countries acting alone. Global solidarity is the only way forward.”

Also read:Biden, Putin discuss arms control, Ukraine

Previous Story

Biden revokes Trump immigration policies

Next Story

Janata Dal decides to contest UP polls independently

Latest from -Top News

Multi-alignment, upgraded

With US ties strained and China tense, New Delhi taps Europe’s harder edge for co-development, clean tech and strategic autonomy, writes Manoj Menon India is recalibrating its great-power hedging as frictions with

India-EU Trade Deal Breakthrough Soon?

Negotiators report increased momentum in discussions, which have been given a boost from US President Donald Trump’s tariff offensive…reports Asian Lite News India and the European Union aim to finalise a trade

Europe Seeks Peace in Gaza

European countries condemn Israeli interception of Gaza-bound flotilla, demand safety of citizens…reports Asian Lite News Israel’s interception of an international flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza has sparked condemnation across Europe, with

GAZA: Egypt to Host Peace Talks

Egypt hopes the discussions will help “end the war and the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people, which has continued for two consecutive years…reports Asian Lite News Egypt will host Israeli and

‘My Injuries Made Me’

During his four-year battle with injury, the incumbent fast bowling spearhead made occasional appearances but couldn’t bear the workload and demands of red-ball cricket….reports Asian Lite News England tearaway Jofra Archer believes
Go toTop