20 January 2021
The World Health Organization’s Director-General has delivered a damning rebuke of the inequitable distribution of COVID vaccines and warned “the world is on the brink of a catastrophic moral failure’’.
“The price of this failure will be paid with lives and livelihoods in the world’s poorest countries,’’ Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
“More than 39 million doses of vaccine have now been administered in at least 49 higher-income countries.
“Just 25 doses have been given in one lowest-income country. Not 25 million; not 25 thousand; just 25.
“It’s right that all governments want to prioritise vaccinating their own health workers and older people first. But it’s not right that younger, healthier adults in rich countries are vaccinated before health workers and older people in poorer countries.
“There will be enough vaccine for everyone. But right now, we must work together as one global family to prioritise those most at risk of severe diseases and death, in all countries.
“Even as they speak the language of equitable access, some countries and companies continue to prioritise bilateral deals, going around COVAX, driving up prices and attempting to jump to the front of the queue. This is wrong,’’ Dr Tedros said.
“44 bilateral deals were signed last year, and at least 12 have already been signed this year.
“The situation is compounded by the fact that most manufacturers have prioritised regulatory approval in rich countries where the profits are highest, rather than submitting full dossiers to WHO.
“This could delay COVAX deliveries and create exactly the scenario COVAX was designed to avoid, with hoarding, a chaotic market, an uncoordinated response, and continued social and economic disruption.
“Not only does this me-first approach leave the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people at risk, it’s also self-defeating.
“Ultimately, these actions will only prolong the pandemic, the restrictions needed to contain it, and human and economic suffering.
“I call on all countries to work together in solidarity to ensure that within the first 100 days of this year, vaccination of health workers and older people is underway in all countries.’