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According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, direct contracts with manufacturers in some rich countries meant that fewer doses of vaccine could be distributed to poorer countries under the COVAX program.
According to the head of the United Nations health agency, with new contributions from the United States, the European Union and Germany, there is money to buy doses of vaccines for poor countries, but that means nothing if there is nothing to buy.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyes called on rich countries to start verifying that their contracts with pharmaceutical companies do not harm COVAX, which is trusted by poorer countries waiting for their first doses.
“If you have money but you can’t buy vaccines with that money, having money means nothing,” he said at a virtual press conference with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
“Respect agreements”
The global non-profit organization ONE Campaign, which was co-founded by U2 singer Bono, said last week that the G7, the rest of the EU and Australia had jointly bought nearly 1.25 billion pounds. more doses than necessary to vaccinate all their populations against COVID-19.
“Some high-income countries are turning to manufacturers for more vaccines [dozių]that affects agreements under COVAX, resulting in a reduction even in COVAX [dozių] Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
“We can only deliver vaccines to COVAX members if high-income countries work together to uphold the COVAX agreements,” he added.
The first wave of vaccine deliveries under the COVAX program is scheduled for late February through late June.
Approximately 145 participating countries will receive 337.2 million. doses of vaccines; they would be enough to vaccinate just over 3 percent. of its entire population.
COVAX executives have expressed hope that they can increase this number to 27 percent by the end of the year.
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