WHO criticizes “lack of political will” to end pandemic

TEdros Ghebreyssus, who participated in a panel discussion at the Forum for Peace in Paris, stressed that “Africa in particular is the continent most affected by the uneven distribution” of COVID-19 vaccines, with only 5% of its population covered. …

This number contrasts with coverage rates in G20 member countries, which have already vaccinated more than 80% of the COVID-19 vaccines used worldwide.

The WHO Director-General found this inequality “reprehensible” morally, but also because of the epidemiological and economic implications.

“This is something that needs to be addressed,” said Tedros Ghebreisus, who called on governments that have many vaccines to share to meet the target of 40% global coverage by the end of this year and 70% by the end. this year. mid 2022.

A WHO spokesman warned that if the current trend continues, there will be about 80 countries globally that will not reach 40% coverage by the end of 2021.

Gebreisus stressed that after a few months, when the pandemic seemed to have subsided, the number of cases has increased, and the incidence and death toll are now very high again – about 7,000 deaths a day.

“No country alone can end this pandemic,” reiterated the head of WHO, who also seized the opportunity to call for universal health coverage, which he said would, among other things, avoid future outbreaks of epidemics.

European Council President Charles Michel, who participated in the same roundtable, pledged that the European Union (EU) is “fully committed to addressing the inequities” of unequal access to vaccines in different parts of the world.

Michel said that in recent days, EU members have added 200 million doses to the Covax device, created to ensure the spread of COVID-19 vaccines in the poorest countries.

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