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The director of the World Health Organization has said the world was on the brink of a “catastrophic moral failure” in vaccine distribution, urging countries and manufacturers to share Covid-19 doses more fairly across all. the world.
“This ‘me first’ approach leaves the world’s poorest and most vulnerable at risk, but is also counterproductive,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at the opening of the annual meeting of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization. organism.
“Ultimately, these actions will only prolong the pandemic,” he said.
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Dr. Tedros said the prospects for equitable distribution are in “grave jeopardy” just as his COVAX vaccine exchange scheme aims to begin distributing vaccines next month.
He noted that 44 bilateral agreements were signed last year and at least 12 have already been signed this year.
“This could delay COVAX deliveries and create exactly the scenario that COVAX was designed to avoid, with hoarding, a chaotic market, an uncoordinated response, and continued social and economic disruption,” he said.
The global fight for vaccines has intensified as more infectious virus variants circulate.
Dr Tedros cited as an example of inequality that more than 39 million doses of vaccines have been administered in 49 higher-income countries, while only 25 doses have been administered in a poor country.
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