The World Health Organization (WHO) today called on countries and companies that own and control the resources to combat Covid-19 to participate, stressing that it will take 19 billion dollars this year to distribute vaccines worldwide.
At a press conference marking the anniversary of the launch of the ACT Tool to Accelerate Production and Distribution of Vaccines, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said, “Countries and companies that control the resources that can save lives they share should be.”
This means “sharing financial resources to support alternative treatment,” sharing vaccine doses, “to protect people most at risk, not just the wealthy,” and “being transparent about bilateral donations of vaccine doses, so you know who has what.”
Tedros Ghebreyesus referred to the epidemiological situation in India as “a devastating sign of what.” [coronavírus SARS-CoV-2] It can do “that indicates the need for” a comprehensive and integrated approach, with public health measures, vaccinations, diagnosis and treatment. “
He warned that it would be a “recurring scenario outside the world unless equitable access” to the means to combat Covid-19 is guaranteed.
The ACT international mechanism, launched by the World Health Organization in collaboration with other entities, such as the GAVI Vaccine Alliance, “needs $ 19 billion this year, which is a drop in the ocean compared to the billions that governments spend. The huge savings and profits most manufacturers are making.” Vaccines. “
Until that happens, he said, people will continue to die “without vaccines, without diagnosis, without treatment,” as is the case in India.
Through ACT, 190 countries committed to the COVAX vaccine distribution mechanism, by which 40 million doses have been sent to more than a hundred countries, and is still far from the set target of ensuring that 2.1 billion doses are reached this year.
The year-long report includes 120 million rapid antigen tests for low- and middle-income countries and requests for more than 60 million rapid and molecular tests.
The goal this year is to ensure access to 900 million tests for these countries.
Also through ACT, 2.9 million doses of dexamethasone have been ordered, the only dose approved by the World Health Organization to fight COVID-19, with a specific target of 245 million treatments guaranteed during this year.
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