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SINGAPORE: The world needs to strengthen cooperation to accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccines and ensure “affordable, fair and equitable access” for all, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Wednesday (September 30).
In a video address at a high-level event at the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Heng expressed Singapore’s support for “vaccine multilateralism.”
He added that the country is a strong supporter of the role of international organizations such as the UN and the World Health Organization (WHO) in the fight against COVID-19, noting that more than 1 million people have died from the disease.
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“All countries are doing everything possible to contain the spread of the virus and cushion the impact of the pandemic on companies, workers and homes. But no place can be truly safe, until all places are safe, ”Heng said.
“Therefore, countries must work together to fight this pandemic. This is our only way to overcome the crisis, “he added.
“In particular, we have to strengthen international cooperation to accelerate vaccine development, maximize production capacity, and ensure affordable, fair and equitable access to vaccines for all.”
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The event at the UN recognizes the progress made in global collaboration to develop and ensure equitable access to new COVID-19 diagnostics and vaccines.
These include initiatives such as the COVID-19 Tool Access Accelerator (ACT) and the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX), which Heng described as “new and innovative” forms of multilateral cooperation established in response to the pandemic.
He said Singapore is one of the “first to support” these initiatives, co-chairing the Friends of COVAX Fund with Switzerland and representing the Small Island States Forum on the ACT Accelerator Facilitation Council.
“We encourage more countries to join these efforts and support vaccine multilateralism to better combat COVID-19,” Heng added.
Noting that the world is at a turning point, Mr. Heng said that actions taken in the coming years will determine “the future of our countries and humanity in the decades to come.”
“By working together and strengthening the foundations of international cooperation, we can better face future crises and achieve sustainable development goals, in order to build a better future for all our people.”
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