WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has requested wealthy countries having large supplies of coronavirus vaccines to refrain from offering booster shots till the end of the year. He advised that millions across the globe are yet to receive a single dose of the vaccine.
In a conversation with journalists in Geneva, the WHO chief said, “I will not stay silent when companies and countries that control the global supply of vaccines think the world’s poor should be satisfied with leftovers. Because manufacturers have prioritized or been legally obliged to fulfill bilateral deals with rich countries willing to pay top dollar, low income countries have been deprived of the tools to protect their people.”
He further said, “90% of high-income countries have reached the 10% COVID19 vaccination target; 70%+ have reached the 40% target. Not 1 low-income country has reached either target. This is why I call for a booster moratorium extension until the end of 2021.”
90% of high-income countries have reached the 10% #COVID19 vaccination target; 70%+ have reached the 40% target. Not 1 low-income country has reached either target. This is why I call for a booster moratorium extension until the end of 2021.https://t.co/DGXyAJvD5i #VaccinEquity pic.twitter.com/fU8jejdR0K
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) September 8, 2021
He added that the rich countries offered to donate one billion vaccine doses to other countries, but fewer than 15 per cent of those doses have “materialised”. “We don’t want any more promises. We just want the vaccines,” the WHO chief said.”
“I will not stay silent when companies and countries that control the global supply of vaccines think the world’s poor should be satisfied with leftover,” he added.
Stating that countries with a low or lower-middle-income are also a priority, Tedros said, “Their health workers, older people, and other at-risk groups have the same right to be protected. So today, I’m calling for an extension of the moratorium until at least the end of the year to enable every country to vaccinate at least 40 per cent of its population.”
