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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Key transportation hub Dubai announced on Sunday an initiative to accelerate delivery of coronavirus vaccines, particularly to developing countries, after WHO warned against neglecting the world’s poor.
The Vaccine Logistics Alliance, which includes Dubai-based Emirates airline and global logistics giant DP World, is designed to “accelerate the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide through the emirate.”
The alliance will “support” the World Health Organization’s COVAX initiative to distribute two billion doses of vaccines, the Dubai Media Office said in a statement, without specifying how many doses it would administer.
“Distribution will particularly focus on emerging markets, where populations have been severely affected by the pandemic, and pharmaceutical transport and logistics are challenging,” he said.
The United Arab Emirates, which includes Dubai and six other emirates, has administered vaccines to more than a quarter of its population, second only to Israel in the global race.
The WHO has urged rich countries to avoid repeating past mistakes of stockpiling drugs and vaccines, saying such behavior would only prolong the pandemic.
“We are all well aware of the challenges we face globally in this pandemic and the need to work together,” UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said in a tweet.
“Vaccine nationalism must not be tolerated in our common battle to defeat COVID,” he said.
COVAX, the global pooling vaccine procurement and distribution effort, has struck deals with manufacturers for two billion vaccine doses and secured options for one billion more.
Dubai said the alliance will work with pharmaceutical manufacturers, shippers and government agencies to transport vaccines, some of which must be kept in very cold temperatures.
“Together, we can store a large volume of vaccine doses at one time and bring and distribute vaccines anywhere in the world in 48 hours,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Airports and Emirates Airline.
The UAE itself has seen a spike in cases after the holiday period, after aggressively opening up to tourism.
But it reported 2,948 new virus cases on Sunday, the lowest number since January 11. – French Media Agency
