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In her video speech at the UN special summit, Chancellor Merkel supported the WHO. He also advocated for a fair global distribution of vaccines.
By Antje Passenheim, ARD-Studio New York
First, Merkel highlighted the organization that the Trump administration had turned its back on: the World Health Organization. Due to the dispute over WHO’s role in fighting the pandemic, a crown resolution of the world community had long failed. And hence the base of this summit. Merkel now emphasized: The UN organization must be strengthened.
“It needs to be able to better respond to cross-border threats to health.”
Germany is committed to this during its Presidency of the Council of the EU and also within the framework of the major industrial nations. Merkel was also hopeful:
“But with all the difficulties in this year of crisis, marked by the pandemic, a light shines at the end of the tunnel.”
Merkel: people around the world need fair access to vaccines
That has a lot to do with the UN’s anti-Covid-19 program. Includes the Covax Alliance for a fair distribution of vaccines, especially in the poorest countries.
“This provides us with a global platform for the development and distribution of drugs, diagnostics and vaccines.”
But the platform needs more financial support to be more effective. Merkel emphasized: The pandemic can only be overcome if everyone around the world has fair access to effective vaccines. Previously, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, had openly expressed his frustration with the way some governments were dealing with the pandemic and the WHO.
“From the beginning, the World Health Organization provided information and scientific advice that could have been the basis for a coordinated global response to the pandemic. Unfortunately, much of the advice has been ignored, sometimes factual. But when it comes to countries go different directions the virus is spreading in all directions. “
Today’s Tips on Vaccine Distribution
The result: at least 1.5 million deaths worldwide and more than 62 million sick. And a crisis the world has not experienced in a long time, said General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir: Since the summer he has been pushing for this special General Assembly meeting. But the international community took until November to reach an agreement.
On the second day, representatives of civil society and research will hold a panel to discuss the global distribution of a vaccine. The heads of Biontech, who developed a vaccine together with Pfizer, will also participate from Mainz.
