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(CNN) – In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that claimed 2 million lives, the head of the United Nations has called on countries to “commit now” to sharing overdoses of vaccines.
“The world’s major economies have a special responsibility. However, today we are seeing a vacuum of vaccines. Vaccines are rapidly reaching high-income countries, while the poorest in the world have none,” the UN Secretary General António Guterres in a video message.
“Some countries are seeking side deals, even buying beyond necessities. Governments have a responsibility to protect their populations, but ‘vaccinations’ is counterproductive and will delay global recovery,” Guterres said. “We need manufacturers to step up their commitment to working with COVAX facilities and countries around the world to ensure sufficient supply and fair distribution. We need countries to commit now to sharing overdoses of vaccines.”
Guterres specifically referred to COVAX, a global initiative of the World Health Organization to ensure rapid and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries.
“Unfortunately, the deadly impact of the pandemic has been compounded by the absence of a coordinated global effort. In the memory of those two million souls, the world must act with much more solidarity,” Guterres said in his video message.
“Safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out, and the UN is supporting countries to mobilize the largest global immunization effort in history. We are committed to ensuring that vaccines are seen as a global public goods – vaccines from people”.
This story was first published on CNN.com, “UN Secretary General Calls on Nations to Share Vaccines as the World Surpasses 2 Million COVID-19 Deaths”
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