“The pandemic will end when the world decides to end it. It is in our hands, we have all the necessary tools, ”stressed Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the opening of the World Health Summit, which annually brings together politicians and professionals from this sector in Berlin.
The WHO spokesman also lamented that “the world has not used these tools wisely,” as “nearly 50,000 deaths per week” associated with covid-19 worldwide indicate that “the pandemic is far from over.”
WHO’s global target, announced in September, is for each country to vaccinate at least 40% of the population by the end of the year, and 70% of the world’s population by mid-2022.
The original goal was for all countries to vaccinate at least 10% of the population by the end of September, but this percentage has not been achieved in 56 countries.
To reverse low vaccination rates, especially in less developed countries, WHO and the UN announced earlier this month a new global COVID-19 vaccination strategy that requires $ 8 billion ($ 6.9 billion) to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines.
At today’s conference, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus believed the new vaccination targets were “achievable,” but warned that countries and vaccine control companies must “make their claims a reality” to do so.
“Countries that have already reached the 40% target, including all G20 countries [as 20 maiores economias mundiais]Must Provide Vaccines ”to the international Covax system and the African Union’s African Vaccine Purchase Fund, in defense of the organization’s CEO.
In a recorded video message, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated that “the triumph of vaccines developed and launched in record time has been offset by the tragedy of unequal distribution.” around the world.
